The type of radioactive decay in which the mass number and atomic number remain unchanged is:
A) beta radiation
B) alpha radiation
C) positron radiation
D) gamma radiation
Answer (3)
Beta radiation is when a neutron decays into a proton and high speed electron, which would increase the atomic number by 1. Alpha radiation is the emission of two neutrons and two protons (helium nucleus) which decreases both the mass and atomic numbers. Positron emission is a proton becoming a neutron, emitting a positively charged electron and thus reduces the atomic number and increases the mass number. Therefore the only remaining option is D, gamma, which does not involve the emission of any fermions but instead is a type of electromagnetic radiation. Basically, it's D.
Different types of radioactive decay involve transformations of particles in the atomic nucleus. However, gamma decay is the type where both mass number and atomic number stay the same as it involves only the emission of energy. ;
The type of radioactive decay where both the mass number and atomic number remain unchanged is gamma radiation. In gamma decay, energy is emitted from the nucleus without altering its particle composition. Therefore, the chosen answer is D) gamma radiation.
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