Question

What happens in a negative beta decay ?

• A. an atomic electron is ejected
• B. an electron which is already present within the nucleus is ejected
• C. a neutron in the nucleus decays emitting an electron
• D. a proton in the nucleus decays emitting an electron

Answer 1

The correct option is C a neutron in the nucleus decays emitting an electron

The negative beta decay reaction is:

$n\to p+e^{-}+\overline{\nu }$

I.e., an electron ($e^{-}$) and an electron anti-neutrino($\overline{\nu }$) are emitted.