How is it possible for a nucleus to eject an electron when it contains no electrons?

A nucleus is the positively charged central core of an atom, composed of protons and neutrons, and contains nearly all the mass of the atom. Unlike negatively charged electrons, which orbit the nucleus, the nucleus consists of protons and neutrons that experience strong nuclear force. It's important to note that the nucleus itself contains no electrons.

Nuclear electron emission, also known as beta decay, is a form of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or positron), is emitted from an atomic nucleus. Although the nucleus contains no electrons, beta decay involves a process that can create and emit an electron or positron by transforming one type of subatomic particle within the nucleus into another.

Weak nuclear force, also referred to as the weak interaction or weak force, is one of the four fundamental forces of nature (alongside the strong nuclear force, electromagnetism, and gravity). The weak force allows particles in the nucleus to change their type by the process called "flavor" transformation. This transformation causes the emission of a beta particle (electron or positron).

In the process of nuclear electron emission, a neutron within the nucleus undergoes a transformation into a proton. The weak nuclear force facilitates this change by converting a "down" quark in the neutron into an "up" quark. As a result, the neutron becomes a proton, and an electron (beta-minus particle) and an antineutrino are emitted. The conservation of energy, momentum, and angular momentum are preserved, but the important fact is that an electron was not initially in the nucleus—it was created from the transformation process. In summary, although the nucleus contains no electrons, a neutron can be transformed into a proton with the emission of an electron due to the weak nuclear force. This phenomenon demonstrates that it is possible for a nucleus to eject an electron even though it initially contains none.