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Question
In beta decay, an electron (or a positron) is emitted by a nucleus. Does the remaining atom get oppositely charged?
Solution
In beta decay, a neutron from the nucleus is converted to a proton releasing an electron and an antineutrino or a proton is converted to a neutron releasing a positron and a neutrino.
i.e. `β^(-) "decay" : n → p + e + bar(nu)`
`β^(+) "decay" : p → n + e^(+) + nu`
Since the number of valence electrons present in the parent atom do not change, the remaining atom does not get oppositely charged. Instead, due to a change in the atomic number, there's a formation of a new element.
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