"The W and Z bosons (together known as the weak bosons) are the elementary
particles that mediate the weak interaction; their symbols are W+, W−and Z. The W bosons have a positive and negative electric charge of 1 elementary charge respectively and are each other's antiparticle. The Z boson is electrically neutral and its own antiparticle. All three of these particles are very short-lived with a half-life of about 3×10−25 s. Their discovery was a major success for what is now called the Standard Model of particle physics."
"The W bosons are named after the Weak force. The physicist Steven Weinberg named the additional particle the "Z particle"[3], later giving the explanation that it was the last additional particle needed by the model – the W bosons had already been named – and that it has Zero electric charge."
"The two W bosons are best known as mediators of neutrino absorption and emission, where their charge is associated with electron or positron emission or absorption, always causing nuclear transmutation. The Z boson is not involved in the absorption or emission of electrons and positrons."