An atom decays to an element with one greater atomic number through the process of beta decay, where a neutron is transformed into a proton and an electron, and the electron is emitted as a beta particle.
To address the question of how an atom can decay to an element with one greater atomic number, we need to look at different types of radioactive decay, specifically considering beta decay.
During beta decay, a neutron inside the nucleus is transformed into a proton and an electron.
The electron is ejected from the nucleus as a beta particle.
This increases the atomic number by one, thus transforming the atom into a new element with one higher atomic number, as in the decay of Carbon-14 into Nitrogen-14.
It's important to note that alpha decay cannot result in an increase of one in the atomic number since it involves the emission of two protons as part of an alpha particle, decreasing the atomic number by two.
Similarly, beta decay accompanied by other particle emissions (such as a positron or additional beta particles) also doesn't fit this criterion as it would involve more complex transformations.
In summary, the correct answer to the question is that an atom can decay to an element one greater in atomic number by emitting a single beta particle