# How do you write an equation for the beta decay of sodium-24?

Jun 16, 2017

Here's how you can do that.

#### Explanation:

Sodium-24 undergoes beta decay, or, more specifically, beta-minus decay.

During a beta decay, a neutron located in the nucleus of a radioactive nuclide is converted to a proton. At the same time, the nuclide emits an electron, also called a beta particle, and an electron antineutrino, ${\overline{\nu}}_{\text{e}}$.

Since a neutron is being converted to a proton, you can say that the atomic number of the nuclide increases by $1$ and the mass number of the nuclide remains unchanged.

You will thus have

$\text{_ 11^24"Na" -> ""_ Z^A"?" + ""_ (-1)^(color(white)(-)0)beta + bar(nu)_"e}$

In any nuclear reaction, charge and mass must be conserved, so you have

• $24 = A + 0 \to$ conservation of mass

This will get you

$A = 24 \to$ the mass number remains unchanged!

• $11 = Z + \left(- 1\right) \to$ conservation of charge

This will get you

$Z = 12 \to$ he atomic number increases by $1$!

Therefore, you can say that the resulting nuclide will have $Z = 12$ and $A = 24$. A quick look in the Periodic Table will reveal that you're dealing with magnesium-24.

This means that you have

$\text{_ 11^24"Na" -> ""_ 12^24"Mg" + ""_ (-1)^(color(white)(-)0)beta + bar(nu)_"e}$