Two examples of nuclides that emit neutrons are beryllium-13 (mean life 2.7 × 10 s) and helium-5 (7 × 10 s). Since only a neutron is lost in this process, the atom does not gain or lose any protons, and so it does not become an atom of a different element. Instead, the atom will become a new isotope of the original element, such as beryllium-13 becoming beryllium-12 after emitting one of its neutrons.