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As a decidedly non scientist, I need an idiot-proof explanation as to why one particular letter is discarded and another particular letter changes to yet another particular letter. I am certain that the Wiki entry would make my head ache.

As a fellow total non-scientist my guess is that the discarded letter equals electron, that the original letter equals neutral and that the new letter equals positive. The change in the numbered cell represents the change in the chemical process.

Beta decay is a type of radioactivity in which an electron is emitted from the nucleus of an atom and a Neutron becomes a Proton.
The atomic number of an element is determined by the number of protons in the nucleus, which will also be the number of electrons orbiting the nucleus, which in turn decides the chemical properties.
The atomic weight of a nucleus is the total number of protons plus neutrons.
Stable Carbon has an atomic number 6 and atomic weight 12: 6 protons and 6 neutrons; while radio-active Carbon has an atomic number of 6 and an atomic weight of 14 (8 neutrons).
When a nucleus of Carbon 14 decays, it changes one of its neutrons to a proton and so will have 7 of each so while the weight stays the same, the atomic number increases by 1.
The element with atomic number 7 is Nitrogen, so a Carbon atom thus becomes a Nitrogen atom.

Thank you both. Can't believe that my son has a doctorate in Particle Physics!!

Thank you Grayfriar for that much more detailed explanation.

My last school physics report (1964) ended with "this boy has a peculiar attitude to the subject - almost a resentment that it exists". As perceptive a comment as it was correct.

Having filled the grid I'm tempted to pack it in but I'll go a stage further while the visiting pups are at the (very crowded) beach.

Can someone help me interpret: "Letters of these names appear in the same (thematically-significant) letter position in the 22 clues.. "
Does this mean the (by my count) 13 separate letters that appear in 1 across and 15 across? If this is the case could someone point me a article where I will be able to deduce the position? I have the names and owe to that poor old Welsh physics teacher to continue.

Hi Williamseal,

The position of the relevant letter in the 5, 6 and 7 letter clues is the most obvious number associated with this puzzle.

Hello Brendan
I just wanted to check the first three letters on what they did. Are they; R A N?
Many thanks
William

Williamseal, yes.

PS These letters didn't really add much to the puzzle and aren't needed to finish it off.

Thank you Grayfriar that is an excellent description for non-physicists like myself.
Also thanks Brendan for the thread - I'd managed to stumble towards the end at this late hour but it really helped when I was doubting what I was doing!