Why is an electron in a radioactive decay indicated with a '-1' where the atomic number should be In the balanced equations of any radioactive decay every atom is represented as xy Z. Wherever an electronic is emitted the 'x' position is indicated by -1 and thus the atomic numbers balance.

Taylor Barron

Taylor Barron

Answered question

2022-11-04

Why is an electron in a radioactive decay indicated with a '-1' where the atomic number should be.
In the balanced equations of any radioactive decay every atom is represented as y x Z
Wherever an electronic is emitted the 'x' position is indicated by -1 and thus the atomic numbers balance.
But it never made sense to me why. I even tried googling but couldn't find what I needed.
Below is one such reaction for an example: 88 228 R a 89 228 A c + 1 0 e

Answer & Explanation

Lillianna Salazar

Lillianna Salazar

Beginner2022-11-05Added 22 answers

The number at the bottom left is the charge (measured in multiples of the elementary charge). For a nucleus this charge is equal to the number of protons ( each having charge + 1) or the atomic number. For an electron the charge is just 1.

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