Which particle is emitted during radioactive decay as a beta particle?

The emission of a beta particle during radioactive decay specifically refers to the release of high-speed electrons or positrons. Beta decay is a process that occurs in certain unstable atomic nuclei where a neutron is transformed into a proton, emitting a high-energy electron, or a proton may transform into a neutron, emitting a positron. This transformation allows the nucleus to move towards a more stable state by changing its composition.

Understanding this process is essential because it highlights the role of beta particles in nuclear reactions and radioactive decay, differentiating them from other particles such as protons, neutrons, or alpha particles. Protons and neutrons do not characterize beta decay, as they are integral constituents of the nucleus, rather than byproducts of this particular form of decay. Similarly, alpha particles, which consist of two protons and two neutrons, are emitted in a different decay process known as alpha decay.