Suppose that initially the total number of protons of the unstable atom is equal to z and the total number of neutrons is equal to n. In the case of a beta minus decay, the neutron of the atom gets transformed into a proton, hence the number of protons contained by the atom tend to increase. The energy is required to be balanced throughout the process, which is why formation of a positron and a neutrino takes place along with the release of kinetic energy. The bonding between the protons and neutrons of the original atom is different from the bonding that exists between the protons and neutrons of the resultant atom, hence the mass of the resultant atom gets reduced. The nucleons of the neutron however, help the neutron to undergo conversion and exhibit beta decay. The mass of a neutron is a little more than the mass of the proton, which is why the conversion of proton, i.e., a comparatively light weighed particle into the neutron, i.e., slightly heavy particle is not possible.
This is the reason why such type of beta decay is called beta plus decay. The charge during the decay is required to be conserved, which is why the new element formed during the decay process is positively charged. This means that the proton gets converted into a neutron, a positron, and a neutrino. Along with the change in number of protons and neutrons, a new positron and a neutrino gets formed. After the atom of this particular radioactive element undergoes beta decay, the total number of protons contained by the nucleus is observed to be equal to z-1, while the total number of neutrons increases and becomes equal to n+1. Suppose that initially the total number of protons contained by the unstable atom is equal to z and the total number of neutrons is equal to n.
In the case of a beta plus decay, the nucleus of an unstable atom contains a proton that gets converted into a neutron, hence the number of protons tend to increase.
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