Beta Decay

Key Stage 5

Meaning

Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay involving the transformation of a neutron into a proton or vice versa, accompanied by the emission of a beta particle and a neutrino or antineutrino.

About Beta Decay

• In beta-minus (β⁻) decay, a neutron turns into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino.
• In beta-plus (β⁺) decay, a proton turns into a neutron, a positron, and a neutrino.
• Occurs in neutron-rich or proton-rich nuclei.
• The emitted beta particles are electrons or positrons.
• Beta radiation is less ionizing than alpha radiation but more than gamma radiation.

Examples

• Carbon-14 undergoes β⁻ decay to become nitrogen-14.
• Fluorine-18 undergoes β⁺ decay in PET scans.