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3trQN
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During radioactive decay, what determines if the emission of a beta particle will be positronic or electronic?
The mass defect determines if a nuclei is radioactive, i.e. will decay spontaneously.3trQN said:During radioactive decay, what determines if the emission of a beta particle will be positronic or electronic?
Beta radiation is a type of radioactive decay where an unstable nucleus emits a beta particle, which is either an electron (beta minus decay) or a positron (beta plus decay). This process results in the nucleus becoming more stable.
Beta decay occurs when an unstable nucleus has too many or too few neutrons compared to protons. The nucleus will then attempt to stabilize itself by either converting a neutron into a proton (beta minus decay) or a proton into a neutron (beta plus decay), and releasing a beta particle in the process.
In beta minus decay, a neutron in the nucleus is converted into a proton, and an electron and an antineutrino are emitted. In beta plus decay, a proton in the nucleus is converted into a neutron, and a positron and a neutrino are emitted. The end result is that the nucleus becomes more stable.
Beta radiation can have harmful effects on living organisms by damaging cells and DNA. However, the degree of harm depends on the amount of radiation exposure and the type of beta particles emitted. In small doses, beta radiation can be used for medical purposes such as cancer treatment, but in larger doses it can be harmful.
Beta radiation can be detected and measured using a Geiger counter or a scintillation detector. These devices can detect the presence of beta particles and measure their energy levels. Additionally, beta radiation can also be detected through imaging techniques such as PET scans, which use positrons emitted during beta plus decay to create images of internal body structures.