Question

A Carbon-10 nucleus has 6 protons and 4 neutrons. Through radioactive beta decay, it turns into a Boron-10 nucleus, with 5 protons and 5 neutrons, plus another particle. What kind of additional particle, if any, is produced during this decay?A : Positively charged.B : No particle is produced.C : Negatively charged.D : Neutral.

Answer 1

(a) positively charged

Step-by-step explanation:

Let's take the scenario step by step

(i) Carbon-10 with 6 protons and 4 neutrons. i.e

¹⁰₆C

(ii) Undergoes a radioactive beta decay (β) decay to form Boron-10 with 5 protons and 5 neutrons ¹⁰₅B as follows;

¹⁰₆C => ¹⁰₅B + β -----------------------(i)

Remember that;

β decay can either be β- or β+

Where;

β - = ⁰₋₁ e⁻ (called electron and is negatively charged)

β + = ⁰₁ e⁺ (called positron and is positively charged)

Now, to balance the equation (i) above, β+ has to be used as follows;

¹⁰₆C => ¹⁰₅B + ⁰₁ e⁺

Therefore, the additional particle produced during this decay is ⁰₁ e⁺ (called positron and is positively charged)

Answer 2

Positively charged particle

Step-by-step explanation:

¹⁰₆C → ¹⁰₅B + e⁺ + ve

Since there is a decrease in the atomic number, there has been nuclear transmutation and a proton has be broken into a neutron and positron with the release of neutrino which has zero charge and very small mass. This is a beta plus decay with the release of Positively charged particle