When a nuclide is unstable, because it has too many neutrons or protons, it will always try to regain its stability through radioactive decay or in other words loss of the excess nucleons. Beta decay is one form of radioactive decay which can be divided into two types, what type a nuclide undergoes depends on what nucleon is in excess.
The first type is β- or β-particle production, this means that the nuclide produces a β-particle, which is an electron, by transforming a neutron into an electron and a proton.
The second type is β+ or positron production and is very similar to the first type, differing only in the fact that the nuclide produces a positron instead of an electron and transforms a proton instead of a neutron. The positron is considerd to be the antiparticle of an electron since it has the same mass but an opposite charge.
This is just one of the possible transformations unstable nuclides can undergo and many nuclides need more than one transformations to reach a stable form.
Gertjan Vancoillie
The first type is β- or β-particle production, this means that the nuclide produces a β-particle, which is an electron, by transforming a neutron into an electron and a proton.
The second type is β+ or positron production and is very similar to the first type, differing only in the fact that the nuclide produces a positron instead of an electron and transforms a proton instead of a neutron. The positron is considerd to be the antiparticle of an electron since it has the same mass but an opposite charge.
This is just one of the possible transformations unstable nuclides can undergo and many nuclides need more than one transformations to reach a stable form.
Gertjan Vancoillie
A nice informative blog on an interesting subject, good work.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI do have some remarks:
First of all, there are some parts that look as though they've been literally translated from Dutch. For example the part: "what type a nuclide undergoes depends on what nucleon is in excess".
Furthermore it would've been nice if you had started by drawing the attention of the readers of this blog. This way you would've made sure this informative post isn't overlooked by people just skimming the various entries.
To finish some minor remarks on some typos I found while reading your post.
- fifth sentence: considerEd, it also would've been better to use "the electron" instead of "an electron" because you start the sentence with "the positron".
- last sentence: many nuclides need more than one transformation (instead of transformationS)
David Weinberger
I've got little to add to what David said:
BeantwoordenVerwijderenflow is ok, I liked the use of the present participle in 'differing only in...'
as for the 'what type' in the first part:
you use what + noun if there's an open choice and 'which' when the choice is limited.
So: what's your favourite colour?
But: Which is your favourite colour: Black or really dark grey?
good job,
olaf