Why does decay happen?

Nuclear decay occurs when the nucleus of an atom is unstable and spontaneously emits energy in the form of radiation. The result is that the nucleus changes into the nucleus of one or more other elements.

Why do neutrons decay?

Outside of stable atomic nuclei, neutrons decay when one of their down quarks undergoes weak nuclear decay into an up quark, transforming the neutron into a positively charged proton and spitting out a negative electron and an antineutrino in compensation.

Why does beta decay not change the mass number?

The atomic mass number does not change because a beta particle has a much smaller mass than the atom. The atomic number goes up because a neutron has turned into an extra proton. Beta decay is fundamentally different from alpha decay.

What factors affect decomposition?

A multitude of factors can affect the decomposition process, increasing or decreasing its rate. Some of the most frequently observed variables are temperature, moisture, insect activity, and sun or shade exposure.

What is the reason behind beta decay?

In beta minus,a neutron is transformed to yield a proton causing an increase in the atomic number of the atom.

What can stop beta decay?

Beta particles can be stopped, as the first answer says, can be stopped by a sheet of aluminium foil. But beta decay is a radioactive process, and thus cannot be stopped, as it is a spontaneous process.

What happens in the process of beta decay?

Beta decay, any of three processes of radioactive disintegration by which some unstable atomic nuclei spontaneously dissipate excess energy and undergo a change of one unit of positive charge without any change in mass number. The three processes are electron emission, positron (positive electron) emission, and electron capture.

How does beta decay affect the nucleus?

Beta decay changes the atomic number of the nucleus by increasing the number of protons, by decreasing the number of neutrons while leaving the atomic mass essentially the same.