I Radioactive decay of Carbon 14

[Electroguru]

Alright, a very simple question here. I am reading about nuclear decay of Carbon 14 into Nitrogen 14. I understand how one electron is released and subsequently one neutron turns into a proton, but I am curious about how many electrons are left with the Nitrogen atom. I want to believe five, as that Carbon 14 would have had 6 initially. Is this correct?

I believe my root problem here is that I don't thoroughly understand beta
decay.

Any body want to share some insight?

 

[jtbell]

I understand how one electron is released and subsequently one neutron turns into a proton,

One neutron turns into a proton plus an electron plus an antineutrino. The electron and the antineutrino are created in the decay.

 

[Orodruin]

Note that the electron (or positron) in a beta decay will generally escape from the atom, leaving an ion behind. The Q-values are typically much larger than the binding energy.

 

[mfb]

The nitrogen atom initially has the same electrons as the carbon atom had - 6. Typically it will quickly collect an electron from the environment to become a neutral nitrogen atom with 7 electrons.

 

[Asgrrr]

Your basic misconception is I think that the electron released via the nuclear reaction is one of the orbital electrons of the original C14 atom. It is not; it is created in the nucleus and flies off, although it may potentially disturb the orbital electrons, that is not the rule. Generally speaking there would be 6 electrons left (assuming a neutral atom). The N14 atom would later presumably gain the 7th electron somehow.