Charge Balance of Atom in Nuclear Positron Emisson

Most recent answer: 08/09/2018

Q:
When an atom undergoes positron decay, a proton is turned into a neutron and both a positron and an electron neutrino are emitted. But what happens to the overall charge of the atom? Since it loses a positive charge in form of the positron, does it also lose an electron to balance the charges?
- Julian Modanese (age 17)
Brisbane, QLD, Australia
A:

Hi Julian,

Your intuition is correct.  Eventually, the atom will shuck off an electron due to charge imbalance.

LeeH


(published on 08/09/2018)