Beta Minus Decay

• Beta minus particles are electrons. (0 e or β-)

  (-1 )
• In Beta Minus Decay the nucleus loses a neutron and gains a proton. The neutron turns into a proton and emits a fast-moving electron. This is as there are too many neutrons in the nucleus.
• Beta Negative particles are moderately ionising and more penetrative than alpha particles
• Causes the atomic number to increase by 1 and the mass number to stay the same.