Question

Which atom is the product (parent isotope ) of beta decay of xenon -140? (140)/(51)xe->?+(0)/(-1)e

Answer 1

The product of beta decay of xenon-140 is cesium-140 (140/55)Cs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The beta decay of xenon-140 results in the transformation of a neutron into a proton and the emission of an electron (beta particle). In nuclear equations, a beta particle is often represented as (0/-1)e or a beta-. Using the conservation of atomic number and mass number in nuclear reactions, when xenon-140 undergoes beta decay, the mass number remains the same (140) because a neutron is converted into a proton, keeping the total number of nucleons unchanged. The atomic number increases by one, from 54 (xenon) to 55 (the atomic number of cesium). Therefore, the daughter nucleus is cesium-140 ((140/55)Cs).