Net Charge of Daughter Atoms in Radioactive Decay: Does it Always Change?

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
2 replies · 2K views
kelvin490
Gold Member
Messages
227
Reaction score
3
I would like to ask will the daughter of a decayed particle carries net charge? For example, after beta negative decay will the daughter atom carries net positive charge and in an alpha decay the daughter carries net negative charge?

I search many textbooks and none of them mention about the net charge of daughter atoms.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes, they will be charged and this effect can be used to generate high voltages in some kinds or radioisotope batteries.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: 1 person
Thanks, I also would like to ask does every decay necessarily involves conversion between mass and energy?