Question
What happens to the mass number and the atomic number of an element when it emits -radiation?
mass number decreases by four and atomic number decreases by two.
mass number and atomic number remain unchanged.
mass number remains unchanged while the atomic number decreases by one.
mass number increases by four and the atomic number increases by two.
Gamma () decay occurs when a nucleus in an excited state transitions to a lower energy state or its ground state by emitting high-energy electromagnetic radiation (photons). Unlike -decay (which decreases the mass number by 4 and atomic number by 2) or -decay (which changes the atomic number by 1), -emission involves only a change in the energy state of the nucleus. Since no nucleons (protons or neutrons) are emitted or transformed during this process, both the mass number () and the atomic number () of the element remain unchanged .
This question aligns with the NEET PHYSICS syllabus, specifically targeting concepts from NUCLEI. Mastering this topic is crucial for scoring well in the upcoming medical entrance examinations. Solving conceptually related problems will help you understand the nuances of these concepts and improve your problem-solving speed.
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