Beta Decay Charge Conservation

In summary, the conversation discusses the conservation of charge during the decay of Carbon-14 into an electron, neutrino, and Nitrogen-14. It is explained that while the number of nucleons remains constant, the extra electron emitted during the process results in Nitrogen-14 having one more proton and one more electron, making its total charge the same as the original state. Additionally, it is mentioned that the atom may become highly ionized after the decay.
  • #1
Saraharris38
8
0
Hey so, I was just wondering:

If Carbon-14 (6 protons, 8 neutrons) decays into an electron, a neutrino, and Nitrogen 14 (7 protons, 7 neutrons) How is charge conserved? I get that nucleons are conserved, but if nitrogen-14 is neutral, then it has 7 protons and 7 electrons, versus Carbon, which had 6 protons and 6 electrons, so is this extra electron the one that comes from the decay of the neutron and is subsequently emitted? In this case, wouldn't Nitrogen-14 have 7 protons and 6 electrons (after the beta particle is emitted), and be an ion with a net positive charge of +1e? Thanks!
 
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  • #2
This is a nuclear process. The cloud of electrons surrounding the nucleus is just spectators.

The original state has 6 protons. The final state has 7 protons plus an electron, for the same total charge.

The extra electron won't even stay associated with the same atom. The atom will probably be highly ionized after the decay.
 

Related to Beta Decay Charge Conservation

What is beta decay charge conservation?

Beta decay charge conservation is a fundamental principle in physics that states that the total charge before and after a beta decay process must remain the same. This means that the total number of protons and electrons in the nucleus and the resulting particles must be equal.

How does beta decay charge conservation affect the particles involved in the process?

In beta decay, a neutron in the nucleus of an atom breaks down into a proton, electron, and an antineutrino. The proton remains in the nucleus, while the electron and antineutrino are emitted. The total charge of the nucleus remains the same, as the proton has a positive charge equal to the negative charge of the electron and the antineutrino has no charge.

Why is beta decay charge conservation important?

Beta decay charge conservation is important because it is a fundamental law of nature that must be obeyed in any nuclear reaction. It helps to explain why certain particles are emitted during beta decay and ensures that the total charge in the universe remains balanced.

Can beta decay charge conservation be violated?

No, beta decay charge conservation cannot be violated. This principle is based on the conservation of energy and charge, which are fundamental laws of physics. Any violation of these laws would require a significant change in our understanding of the universe.

How is beta decay charge conservation related to other conservation laws?

Beta decay charge conservation is related to other conservation laws, such as the conservation of energy and the conservation of lepton number. These laws all work together to ensure that the fundamental properties of matter and energy remain consistent and balanced in any physical process.

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