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.

A : Positively charged.

Explanation:

In a beta decay an unstable nucleus emits a beta particle (an electron or positron) to compensate the ratio between neutrons and protons in the atomic nucleus. In this case, a proton in the atomic nucleus becomes a neutron, by the emission of a positron(+e) accompanied by an antineutrino from the nucleus.

A: Positively charged

Explanation:

A carbon-10 with 6 protons and 4 neutrons can be represented as follows;

¹⁰₆C

When it undergoes beta (β) decay it turns to a Boron-10 nucleus with 5 protons and 5 neutrons which can be represented as follows;

¹⁰₆C  => ¹⁰₅B  + β          (i)

Note that a β decay can either be β+ or β-

Where;

β+  is  ⁰₁e [called a positron and is positively charged]

and

β- is ⁰₋₁e [called an electron and is negatively charged]

But then, to balance equation (i) above, β+ = ⁰₁e should be used as follows;

¹⁰₆C  => ¹⁰₅B  + ⁰₁e

Therefore, during the decay, a positively charged particle called positron is produced.

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