Question Details

Tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, emits which of the following particles ?

Options

A

Gamma (γ)

B

Neutron (n)

C

Beta (β)

D

Alpha (α)

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option C

Beta (β)

Beta (β−)

Solution :

Tritium (³H) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that contains one proton and two neutrons in its nucleus.

Because it has an excess of neutrons, tritium undergoes a transformation in which one of its neutrons is converted into a proton. This nuclear change can be expressed as:

np + e + ν̅

In this reaction, the neutron (n) changes into a proton (p) and releases an electron (e) and an antineutrino (ν̅). The emitted electron is the particle known as a beta‑minus (β) particle.

Consequently, the decay of tritium can be written as:

³H³He + β + ν̅

Therefore, the particle emitted by tritium is a beta‑minus particle.

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