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Glossary of Scientific Terms

Proton Emission

After proton emission, an atom contains one less proton.

Proton emission is one process that unstable atoms can use to become more stable. During proton emission, a proton is ejected from an atom's nucleus.

Since an atom loses a proton during proton emission, it changes from one element to another. For example, after undergoing proton emission, an atom of nitrogen (with 7 protons) becomes an atom of carbon (with 6 protons).

This page is maintained by Steve Gagnon.

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