What occurs during beta decay?

During beta decay, a neutron in an unstable nucleus undergoes a transformation into a proton, while simultaneously emitting a beta particle, which is essentially an electron. This process is a key characteristic of beta decay and is crucial in the context of nuclear stability. When a neutron converts into a proton, the nucleus effectively increases its positive charge, leading to the formation of a different element, as the atomic number increases by one. The emitted beta particle carries away energy and momentum, allowing the decay to conserve these quantities. This change in the nucleus is significant as it highlights how isotopes can become more stable through such decay processes, ultimately transforming one element into another with a new atomic structure.