What happens to the atomic number when a beta particle is emitted?

When a beta particle is emitted, the atomic number of the nucleus increases by 1. This occurs during a type of radioactive decay known as beta decay. In beta decay, a neutron in the nucleus is transformed into a proton, while simultaneously releasing a beta particle, which is essentially an electron. As a result of this transformation, the overall number of protons in the nucleus increases, thereby raising the atomic number by one, while the mass number remains unchanged since a neutron is converted into a proton.

This change is significant because it alters the identity of the element: for instance, if carbon undergoes beta decay, it transforms into nitrogen, reflecting the change in the atomic number. Understanding this process is key in nuclear physics and helps to grasp the behavior of elements during radioactive decay.