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A nuclear decay is expressed as ¹¹₆C → ¹¹₅B + β⁺ + X. Then the unknown particle X is

Asked in CBSE AIPMT 2000 · Q-value, decay and conservation laws

Answer: (4) neutrino

Step-by-step solution

Balance the mass number: 11=11+0+A_X, so X has mass number 0.

Balance the charge: 6=5+1+Z_X, so X carries no charge.

X is therefore neutral with mass number 0, which among the options narrows it to a neutrino or an antineutrino.

Lepton bookkeeping settles which: positron emission creates an antiparticle of the electron, so it must be paired with a neutrino.

X is a neutrino.

Why the other options are wrong

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