Beta Decay is divided into two types of reactions: [[#Beta-Minus Decay]] and [[#Beta-Plus Decay]]. ### Beta-Minus Decay *(Also known as **neutron-beta decay**)* ![[beta_decay_minus.svg.png|align:center|200]] $ \ce{^{A}_{Z}X} \longrightarrow \ce{^{A}_{(Z+1)}X'} + e^{-} + \bar{\nu}_{e} \hspace{3cm} \textcolor{gray}{\left[ n \longrightarrow p + e^{-} + \bar{\nu}_{e} \right]} $ Beta-Minus decay is the nuclear decay process whereby one of the neutrons ($n$) in a parent nucleus is transformed into a proton ($p$), emitting a electron ($e^{-}$) and electron antineutrino ($\bar{\nu}_{e}$). > [!reminder] Beta Particle > An beta particle ($\beta^{\pm}$) is the equivalent of an energetic electron ($\beta^{-} \equiv e^{-}$) or positron ($\beta^{+} \equiv e^{+}$). ### Beta-Plus Decay *(Also known as **positron emission** or **proton-beta decay**)* ![[beta_decay_plus.svg.png|align:center|200]] $ \ce{^{A}_{Z}X} \longrightarrow \ce{^{A}_{(Z-1)}X'} + e^{+} + \nu_{e} \hspace{3cm} \textcolor{gray}{\left[ p \longrightarrow n + e^{+} + \nu_{e} \right]} $ Beta-Minus decay is the nuclear decay process whereby one of the protons ($p$) in a parent nucleus is transformed into a neutron ($n$), emitting a positron ($e^{+}$) and electron neutrino ($\nu_{e}$). > [!reminder] Beta Particle > An beta particle ($\beta^{\pm}$) is the equivalent of an energetic electron ($\beta^{-} \equiv e^{-}$) or positron ($\beta^{+} \equiv e^{+}$).