Question

If a Calcium atom with atomic number 20 and mass number 41 undergoes a ${\beta }^{-}$
(beta minus).
The value of Z is ___ and A is ___ in the daughter nucleus.

Answer 1

Since in beta minus a neutron converts into a proton, so the atomic number has to increase by 1.
Will the mass number change??
Hmmm...
Not exactly right.
Now I have a neutron less but a proton more, so the mass number is going to remain unchanged.
This means Z will be 21 and A will remain 41.