What typically happens to a neutron during beta decay?

In beta decay, a neutron undergoes a transformation process in which it converts into a proton. This occurs through a weak nuclear interaction, where one of the down quarks in the neutron is altered into an up quark. As a result of this change, the neutron, which is made up of one up quark and two down quarks, becomes a proton, consisting of two up quarks and one down quark.

This transformation is significant because, in the process, the neutron emits a beta particle, which is an electron, along with an antineutrino. This emission helps conserve energy and momentum in the decay process. The newly formed proton remains in the nucleus, increasing the atomic number of the element, while the emitted beta particle and antineutrino carry away energy.

The other options do not accurately describe what happens during beta decay. The neutron is not simply emitted as a particle or fused with an electron, and it is certainly not absorbed by the nucleus in this context, as its conversion directly changes its identity and status within the nucleus.