Question

Which type of radioactive decay has the net effect of changing a neutron into a proton? Which type of decay has the net effect of turning a proton into a neutron?

Short answer

The net effect of turning a neutron into a proton is beta decay. The net effect of turning a proton into a neutron is positron decay.

Step-by-step solution

Kind of decay in changing a neutron into a proton

When an atom has too many neutrons, it changes a neutron into a proton. When the beta decay takes place, an electron is ejected. This causes the decay of a neutron into a proton.

For example:

${}_6{}^{14}\mathrm{C}\to {}_7{}^{14}\mathrm{N}+{}_{-1}{}^0\mathrm{e}$

In the above example, we can observe the change of a neutron into a proton through the ejection of an electron.

Kind of decay in turning a proton into a neutron

When an atom is short of neutrons, it converts its protons into neutrons. In a positron production, a positive alternative of an electron is ejected, which causes a proton to decay into a neutron. For example:

${}_{12}{}^{23}\mathrm{Mg}\to {}_{11}{}^{23}\mathrm{N}+{}_{-1}{}^0\mathrm{e}$

In the above example, we can observe the conversion of a proton into a neutron through the ejection of a positron