Does gamma decay by itself cause one element to become another element, as in alpha decay and beta decay?
1 Answer
Feb 11, 2018
No
Explanation:
Gamma decay involves a change in the structure of the nucleus of an atom, but not its composition. The number of neutrons and protons stays the same, so the element does not change.
Associated with the change in structure is a release of energy in the form of a photon.
