Beta Decay: Understanding the Formation of Krypton-82

What does Krypton-82 resulting from beta decay mean?

a. Krypton-82 is stable
b. Krypton-82 is radioactive
c. Krypton-82 undergoes alpha decay
d. Krypton-82 undergoes gamma decay

Answer:

Krypton-82 resulting from beta decay means that it has been formed by the previous emission of a beta particle (an electron) from another element, leading to an increase in the atomic number. Whether Krypton-82 is stable after this process is determined by its neutron-to-proton ratio, and in this case, Krypton-82 is indeed a stable isotope.

Explanation:

The student is asking about the characteristics of Krypton-82 resulting from beta decay. Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay where a nucleus emits a beta particle (an electron), and as a result, a neutron in the nucleus turns into a proton. This causes the atomic number to increase by one but leaves the mass number unchanged. The resulting nucleus may be stable or may continue to decay if it still resides outside the band of stability. given the context, if Krypton-82 is resulting from beta decay, it means that it has just undergone a transformation from a different element (with an atomic number one less than that of krypton, which is 36) by the emission of a beta particle. Nonetheless, whether Krypton-82 is stable or radioactive is a separate question. The stability of a nuclide is not determined by the type of decay it resulted from but by whether it has reached a balance in its neutron-to-proton ratio and falls within the band of stability for its atomic number. For Krypton-82, this isotope is actually stable after it has resulted from beta decay.