Question

What are comparisons between electrons, beta particles, and positrons?

Answer 1

Well, here's a table...

`ul("Name"" "" ""Type"" ""Spin"" ""Charge (a.u.)"" ""Mass (kg)"" "" "" ")`
`"Positron"" "beta" "" "" "1/2" "+1" "" "" "" "" "9.10938356 xx 10^(-31)`
`"Electron"" "beta" "" "" "1/2" "-1" "" "" "" "" "9.10938356 xx 10^(-31)`

They're both fermions, since their spins are both half-integer. They're also both `beta` particles. In nuclear chemistry, we speak of positron emission (`beta^+` decay) and beta decay (`beta^-` decay):

BETA DECAY (`beta^-`)

Here a neutron emits an electron `""_(-1)^0 e` (a `beta^-` particle) and a proton `""_1^1 p` remains.

`""_0^1 n -> ""_1^1 p + ""_(-1)^(0) e`

An electron antineutrino `barnu_e` is also emitted but we don't often say it.

POSITRON EMISSION (`beta^+`)

Here a proton emits a positron `""_1^0 e` (a `beta^+` particle) and a neutron `""_0^1 n` remains.

`""_1^1 p -> ""_1^0 e + ""_0^1 n`

An electron neutrino `nu_e` is also emitted but we don't often say it.