The formula to calculate the Initial Neutron Count (N) is:
\[ N = Z - \beta \]
Where:
Beta minus decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a neutron is transformed into a proton, an electron (beta particle), and an antineutrino. This process increases the atomic number of the element by one, while the mass number remains unchanged. Beta minus decay is a common decay mode for neutron-rich nuclei and plays a significant role in the natural radioactivity of certain elements.
Example 1:
Using the formula:
\[ N = 10 - 2 = 8 \]
Example 2:
Using the formula:
\[ N = 15 - 3 = 12 \]
