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Answer the following question:
Write the process of $$\beta^-$$ decay. How can radioactive nuclei emit $$\beta-$$particles even though they do not contain them ? Why do all electrons emitted during $$\beta-$$decay not have the same energy ?

Solution
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In $$\beta^{-}$$decay, the mass number A remains unchanged but the atomic number Z of the nucleus goes up by $$1.$$ A common example of $$\beta^{-}$$decay is
$$^{32}_{15}P \rightarrow ^{32}{16}S + e^{-} + \overset{-}{v}$$
A neutron of nucleus decays into a proton, an electron and an antineutrino. It is this electron which is emitted as $$\beta^{-}$$ particles.
$$^{1}_{0}n \rightarrow ^{1}_{1}p + ^{0}_{-1}e + \overset{-}{v}$$
In $$\beta$$-decay, particles like antineutrinos are also emitted along with electrons. The available energy is shared by electrons and antineutrinos in all proportions. That is why all electrons emitted during $$\beta^-$$decay not have the same energy.

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