# Don't Understand Beta Decay

Reading Wikipedia on "Beta Decay" they list the equation of Carbon-14 decaying into N-14. see equation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_decay

I presume the 14 refers to total protons and neutrons. The 6 in C, I believe means six protons. In N, I believe the 7 refers to protons. Where did the seventh proton come from the decay of C-14 into N-14? I understand neutrons can decay into protons, but the math doesn't work for me.

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For all radioactive decay (or other nuclear reaction) of a nuclide into other nuclides, the atomic number $Z$ and mass number $A$ need to be conserved.

$$\ce{_{Z_1}^{A_1}X -> _{Z_2}^{A_2}Q + _{Z_3}^{A_3}R }$$ $$Z_1 = Z_2 + Z_3$$ $$A_1 = A_2 + A_3$$

Additionally, the charges must be conserved. If $\ce{_{Z_3}^{A_3}R }$ is an alpha particle $\ce{_2^2\alpha^{2+}}$ or $\ce{_2^2He^{2+}}$, then:

$$\ce{_{Z}^{A}X -> _{Z-2}^{A-2}Q^{2-} +_2^2He^{2+}}$$

Neutrons decay into protons and electrons (beta particles). Both particles are needed for the math to work. And in order for the math to work, you need to know that the atomic number $Z$ is $0$ for a neutron (no protons), and $1$ for a proton (1 proton, or the $\ce{H+}$ ion). The electron does not have an atomic number. In fact, it is not that $Z$ and charges must be conserved separately. The sum of atomic number and charge is conserved.

$$\ce{_0^1n -> _1^1p+ + _{0}^0e-}$$

For the decay of $\ce{^{14}_6C}$ into $\ce{_7^{14}N}$, we first have a neutron decay into a proton and an electron, which is captured by the newly formed $\ce{_7^{14}N^+}$. The nitrogen nuclide is initially a cation because carbon only had six electrons, and nitrogen needs seven.

$$\ce{_6^{14}C -> _7^{14}N+ +e- -> _7^{14}N}$$

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If the emitted electron is "captured by the newly formed nitrogen", what does a Geiger counter detect? – DJohnM May 6 '14 at 21:41

Charge and energy are always conserved. Mass is a form of energy, and what we call 'mass number' - the sum of neutrons + protons - is a close approximation to mass (because electrons are so light, having just over a two-thousandth of the mass of a proton or a neutron).

The conversion of a neutron into a proton when an electron is released takes care of charge conservation, because the charge on the proton is exactly the opposite of the charge on the electron.

The energy needed to create the electron in beta decay comes from the reduced binding energy of the nucleons in N-14 compared with those in C-14.

Does that make sense of the maths for you?

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