Carbon-14 () undergoes beta-minus decay. What is the daughter nucleus?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. nitrogen-14
- Step 1: In beta-minus decay a neutron becomes a proton and an electron is emitted. Step 2. The mass number stays 14 and rises from 6 to 7, which is nitrogen. Answer: nitrogen-14. Why not the others: Carbon-13 changes the mass number, boron-14 lowers (that is beta-plus), and nitrogen-15 changes the mass number.
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