Question

A nucleus of tritium contains 2 neutrons and 1 proton. If the nucleus undergoes beta decay emitting an electron the nucleus is transmuted intoA the nucleus of an isotope of helium B the nucleus of an isotope of lithium C an alpha particleD a triton E a deuteron

Answer 1

After a tritium nucleus undergoes beta decay, it is transmuted into helium-3, an isotope of helium with one neutron and two protons.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a tritium nucleus, which contains 2 neutrons and 1 proton, undergoes beta decay (emitting an electron), a neutron in the nucleus is transformed into a proton. As a result, the number of protons in the resulting nucleus increases by one, changing the identity of the element.

Therefore, the tritium nucleus, which is an isotope of hydrogen, changes into an isotope of helium. Specifically, it becomes helium-3 (³He), which has one neutron and two protons. Beta decay does not produce isotopes of lithium, an alpha particle, a triton, or a deuteron. The nucleus is transmuted into the nucleus of an isotope of helium, option A).