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<!doctype html> <html lang="en-US"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta name="keywords" content="Beta Decay,glossary,glossary of science terms"> <meta name="description" content="A glossary of scientific terms."> <meta name="robots" content="index,all"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/main_2020.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/font-awesome.min.css">  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/glossary_2020.css"> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-3SJLGKR77H"></script><script>window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-3SJLGKR77H');</script>    <title>Glossary Term - Beta Decay</title> </head> <body>  <div class="topnav" id="myTopnav"> <a href="/index.html" title="JLab Science Education Home"><img src="/g/scied_logo_sm.png" width="149" height="80" alt="Science Education Home"></a> <a href="/index.html" title="JLab Science Education Home">Home</a> <a href="/indexpages/teachers.html" title="Teacher Tools">Teachers</a> <a href="/indexpages/" title="Student Zone">Students</a> <a href="/indexpages/elementgames.html" title="Games and Puzzles">Games</a> <a href="/indexpages/science_videos.html" title="Science Videos">Videos</a> <a href="/solquiz/" title="Virginia Standards of Learning Practice Tests">VA SOL</a> <a href="/indexpages/program.html" title="Programs and Events">Programs</a> <div class="search-container"> <form action="/search/"> <input type="text" placeholder="Search..." name="q"> <button type="submit"><i class="fa fa-search"></i></button> </form> </div> <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="icon" title="Menu" onclick="navToggle();"> <i class="fa fa-bars"></i> </a> </div>   <main> <div class="content"> <h1 class="page-header">Glossary</h1>   <div class="row general-section-nav desktop-size"> <div class="col-4 left-general-nav-block"> <p> <a href="avogrado.html"><img src="/g/larr.gif" width="33" height="13" alt="Avogadro's Number">Previous Question</a> </p> <p class="nav-name"> <a href="avogrado.html">(Avogadro's Number)</a> </p> </div> <div class="col-4"> <p> <a href="index.html">Glossary Main Index</a> </p> </div> <div class="col-4 right-general-nav-block"> <p> <a href="betaparticle.html">Next Question<img src="/g/rarr.gif" width="33" height="13" alt="Beta Particle"></a> </p> <p class="nav-name"> <a href="betaparticle.html">(Beta Particle)</a> </p> </div> </div>  <div class="row general-section-nav glossary-medium"> <div class="col-4 left-general-nav-block"> <p> <a href="avogrado.html"><img src="/g/larr.gif" width="33" height="13" alt="Avogadro's Number">Previous Question</a> </p> <p class="nav-name"> <a href="avogrado.html">(Avogadro's Number)</a> </p> </div> <div class="col-4"> <p> <a href="index.html">Glossary Main Index</a> </p> </div> <div class="col-4 right-general-nav-block"> <p> <a href="betaparticle.html">Next Question<img src="/g/rarr.gif" width="33" height="13" alt="Beta Particle"></a> </p> <p class="nav-name"> <a href="betaparticle.html">(Beta Particle)</a> </p> </div> </div>  <div class="row general-section-nav smallest-size"> <div> <p> <a href="avogrado.html"><img src="/g/larr.gif" width="33" height="13" alt="Avogadro's Number"></a> <a href="index.html">Glossary Index</a> <a href="betaparticle.html"><img src="/g/rarr.gif" width="33" height="13" alt="Beta Particle"></a> </p> </div> </div>  <p class="glossary-title">Beta Decay</p> <p class="img"><img src="img/betadecay.gif" width="459" height="344" alt="Beta decay results in the emission of an electron and antineutrino, or a positron and neutrino."></p><p>Beta decay is one process that unstable atoms can use to become more stable. There are two types of beta decay, beta-minus and beta-plus.</p><p>During beta-minus decay, a <a href="neutron.html">neutron</a> in an atom's <a href="nucleus.html">nucleus</a> turns into a <a href="proton.html">proton</a>, an <a href="electron.html">electron</a> and an <a href="neutrino.html">antineutrino</a>. The electron and antineutrino fly away from the nucleus, which now has one more proton than it started with. Since an atom gains a proton during beta-minus decay, it changes from one element to another. For example, after undergoing beta-minus decay, an atom of <a href="/itselemental/ele006.html">carbon</a> (with 6 protons) becomes an atom of <a href="/itselemental/ele007.html">nitrogen</a> (with 7 protons).</p><p>During beta-plus decay, a proton in an atom's nucleus turns into a neutron, a <a href="positron.html">positron</a> and a <a href="neutrino.html">neutrino</a>. The positron and neutrino fly away from the nucleus, which now has one less proton than it started with. Since an atom loses a proton during beta-plus decay, it changes from one element to another. For example, after undergoing beta-plus decay, an atom of carbon (with 6 protons) becomes an atom of <a href="/itselemental/ele005.html">boron</a> (with 5 protons).</p><p>Although the numbers of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus change during beta decay, the total number of particles (protons + neutrons) remains the same.</p>  <div class="row page-contact"> <div class="col-12"> <p><a href="/faq/index.html">Citation and linking information</a></p> <p>For questions about this page, please contact <a href="mailto:carolm@jlab.org">Carol McKisson</a>.</p> </div> </div>  </div>  </main>   <footer> <div class="jlab-footer-background"> <div class="jlab-footer-content clearfix">  <div class="jlab-footer-right-container"> <p class="address">Thomas Jefferson</p> <p class="address">National Accelerator Facility</p> <div class="scied-lower-box"> <p class="address2">OFFICE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION</p> <p class="address2">628 Hofstadter Road, Suite 6<br>Newport News, VA 23606</p> <p class="contact"><a href="mailto:surles@jlab.org">CONTACT US</a></p> </div> </div>   <div class="jlab-footer-left-container clearfix"> <div class="jl-col-1 jlab-footer-left-content clearfix"> <div class="jl-col-1 jlab-footer-resources"> <p><a href="https://www.jlab.org/">Jefferson Lab Resources</a></p> </div> <div class="jl-col-4 jlab-footer-left-links jl-smaller-screens"> <h2><a href="https://www.jlab.org/about/">For The Public</a></h2> <ul>  <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/eic/">Electron-Ion Collider</a></li> <li><a href="https://careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/client_jeffersonlab/external/search.do?functionName=getSearchCriteria">Job Openings</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/pressroom/newsarchives/">News</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/pressroom/">Press Room</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/research/">Research Highlights</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/visiting/">Visiting</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="jl-col-4 jlab-footer-left-links jl-smaller-screens"> <h2><a href="https://www.jlab.org/scientists/">For Researchers</a></h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/accelerator/">Accelerator Science</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.eiccenter.org/">EIC Center</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/eic-partner-project/">EIC Partner Project</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/engineering/">Engineering</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/physics/">Nuclear Physics</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/IT/Publications/">Publications</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/theory/">Theory Center</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/physics/user-liaison/">User Information</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="jl-col-4 jlab-footer-left-links jl-smaller-screens"> <h2><a href="https://education.jlab.org/">For Education</a></h2> <ul> <li><a href="/indexpages/elementgames.html">Games & Puzzles</a></li> <li><a href="https://gspda.jlab.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page/">Postdoc/Grad Students</a></li> <li><a href="/indexpages/program.html">Programs & Events</a></li> <li><a href="/indexpages/science_videos.html">Science Cinema</a></li> <li><a href="/indexpages/">Student Zone</a></li> <li><a href="/indexpages/teachers.html">Teacher Tools</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="jl-col-4 jlab-footer-left-links jl-smaller-screens"> <h2><a href="https://www.jlab.org/business-services/">For Business</a></h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/about/communityimpact/">Community Impact</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/eshq/emergmgt/">Emergency Preparedness</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/about/comms/eventservices/">Event Services</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/partnerships">Partnerships</a></li> <li><a href="https://misportal.jlab.org/mis/staff/staffsearch.cfm">Phone Book</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/finance/procurement/">Procurement</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/finance/procurement/smallbusiness/">Small Business Program</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jlab.org/techtransfer/">Technology Transfer</a></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div class="jl-col-1 jlab-footer-left-bottom"> <p>Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is managed by</p> <p>Jefferson Science Associates, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy</p> </div> </div>  </div>  </div>  </footer>   <script> function navToggle() { var x = document.getElementById("myTopnav"); if (x.className === "topnav") { x.className += " responsive"; } else { x.className = "topnav"; } } </script> </body> </html>