Question

Question #8f73c

Answer 1

`""_1^3H → ""_2^3He^(1+) + e^− + bar v_e`

Explanation:

A tritium has 1 electron,1 proton and 2 neutrons

so if you are thinking tritium has 3 neutrons only that's wrong.

Morever if you are thinking of an isotope with 3 neutrons only you are going on the wrong way.

And also if you are looking for a substance composed of 3neutrons per nucleus its name is trineutron which is not detected.

Whatsoever the nucleus of a tritium also called triton has 2 neutrons and 1 proton

Look at the structure of an atom of tritium

And this is the nucleus of tritium atom also called triton

In a beta decay (`beta^-)`) decay a neutron is converted to a proton and releases an electronantineutrino and an electron.

There are two down quarks and one up quark in a neutron. A free neutron is unstable and one downquark in it is converted in a upp quark releasing a W boson

`d = u + W^-)`

Where d is the down quark
u is the upper quark
`W^-)` is the W boson

This is followed by the decay of W boson itself

`W^-) rarr e^-) +bar ν_e`

Where `e^-` is electron

`bar v_e` is an electron electron antineutrino

One the down quark is converted to upp quark the neutron does not stay neutron any more. It changes into a proton because two upp quarks and 1 down quark make up a proton

`"udd" → "uud" + e^− + bar ν_e` (Beta decay of neutron, quark notation)

Where u is representing one upp quark
d is representing one down quark
`e^-` is electron
`bar v_e`

So this actually happens in a beta decay

Only one neutron is converted to a proton and no other neutrons are affected

So for the triton

1 neutron is being converted to a proton and releasing a W boson which decaying into an electron and electron antineutrino

So `1/2` neutrons is being converted to a proton thus resulting decrease of 1 neutron and increase of 1proton

Count how many neutrons and protons are there in triton

neutrons = 2
protons = 1

After decay

neutrons = 2-1 = 1
protons =1+1 = 2

Recognize the nucleus of the element with 2protons and 1electron.
Yes you figured it right,its a helium nucleus

So now time to represent the decay in an equation

`""_1^3H → ""_2^3He^(1+) + e^− + bar v_e`

H is hydrogen
He is helium

`e^-` is electron
`bar v_e` is electron antineutrino