When a radioactive isotope undergoes beta decay, which of the following will not occur? question 16 options: energy is released. the atomic number of the original nucleus changes. the mass number of the original nucleus changes. the original nucleus approaches greater stability.

This will not occur: The mass number of the original nucleus changes.

Explanation:

A radioactive isotope is an unstable isotope of an atom, which, ir order to attain stability, emits radtiation.

When an unstable isotope emits radition it is said that it has undergone decay.

There are three kinds of decay: Alpha, Beta and Gamma.

This question deals only with Beta decay.

The Beta decay consists in the emission of an electron (mass number zero, charge -1) as result of the transformation of neutron into a proton (mass number 1 and charge 0) and the so mentioned electron.

Since, the mass number is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons, the mass number of the original nucleus and the new nucleus are the same.

On the other hand, the atomic number (the number of protons) increase.

In summary:

With that, you can review the four options of your question:

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