In radioactivity β particles originate from:

Explanation

The explanation is given below: Beta (β) particles in radioactivity originate from the decay of certain types of atomic nuclei. There are two types of beta particles, β- and β+, which are associated with different processes: Beta-Minus (β-) Decay: In beta-minus decay, a neutron in the nucleus is transformed into a proton, an electron (β- particle), and an antineutrino. This results in an increase in the atomic number (Z) by 1, while the mass number (A) remains the same. The emitted β- particle carries away one unit of negative charge. Beta-Plus (β+) Decay: In beta-plus decay, a proton in the nucleus is transformed into a neutron, a positron (β+ particle), and a neutrino. This leads to a decrease in the atomic number (Z) by 1, while the mass number (A) remains the same. The emitted β+ particle carries away one unit of positive charge. Both types of beta decay occur in certain unstable atomic nuclei, helping to stabilize them by changing the balance of protons and neutrons. The emitted beta particles can be detected and are commonly used in particle physics experiments and medical imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET).