- #1
Saraharris38
- 8
- 0
Hey so, I was just wondering:
If Carbon-14 (6 protons, 8 neutrons) decays into an electron, a neutrino, and Nitrogen 14 (7 protons, 7 neutrons) How is charge conserved? I get that nucleons are conserved, but if nitrogen-14 is neutral, then it has 7 protons and 7 electrons, versus Carbon, which had 6 protons and 6 electrons, so is this extra electron the one that comes from the decay of the neutron and is subsequently emitted? In this case, wouldn't Nitrogen-14 have 7 protons and 6 electrons (after the beta particle is emitted), and be an ion with a net positive charge of +1e? Thanks!
If Carbon-14 (6 protons, 8 neutrons) decays into an electron, a neutrino, and Nitrogen 14 (7 protons, 7 neutrons) How is charge conserved? I get that nucleons are conserved, but if nitrogen-14 is neutral, then it has 7 protons and 7 electrons, versus Carbon, which had 6 protons and 6 electrons, so is this extra electron the one that comes from the decay of the neutron and is subsequently emitted? In this case, wouldn't Nitrogen-14 have 7 protons and 6 electrons (after the beta particle is emitted), and be an ion with a net positive charge of +1e? Thanks!