Yes, when an atom loses a beta particle, the atomic number increases because it gains a proton. During beta decay, a neutron in the nucleus of the atom is transformed into a proton. This process occurs through the conversion of a neutron into a proton, an electron, and an electron antineutrino.
In beta-minus (β-) decay, a neutron is converted into a proton by emitting an electron (β-) and an electron antineutrino. The process can be represented as follows:
n → p + e^- + ν
Here, "n" represents a neutron, "p" represents a proton, "e^-" represents an electron, and "ν" represents an electron antineutrino.
By emitting an electron, the atom effectively loses a negatively charged particle. Since the proton has a positive charge, the atom gains a proton in the process. This results in an increase in the atomic number by one, indicating a transition to a different element.
It's important to note that beta decay occurs due to weak nuclear forces, which allow for the transformation of a neutron into a proton. This process is mediated by the weak force and follows the conservation laws of energy, charge, and lepton number.