What happens to the atomic number when a beta particle is released?

When a beta particle is released, the atomic number of the atom increases by one. This process occurs during beta decay, which involves the transformation of a neutron into a proton. In this transformation, a beta particle (which is essentially an electron) is emitted from the nucleus.

As a result of this change, since a neutron converts into a proton, the total number of protons in the nucleus—the atomic number—goes up by one. This increase signifies that the element changes into a different element on the periodic table, as each element is defined by its unique atomic number. Therefore, the correct understanding of what happens to the atomic number during the release of a beta particle is that it gains one.