What is gamma decay?
1 Answer
See explanation below.
Explanation:
There are many kinds of radioactive decays. Three of main kinds are:
-
alpha particle decay. In which one Helium nucleus""_2^4"He" is ejected from the unstable radioactive nucleus. The daughter nucleus has mass number of 4 less and atomic number 2 less. -
beta particle decay. In this case either one electronbeta^- is ejected. The daughter nucleus has same mass number and atomic number 1 more, or one positronbeta^+ is ejected. In this case the daughter nucleus has same mass number and atomic number 1 less. -
gamma ray emission also called Gamma decay. In which excited nucleus releases a high-energy photon calledgamma rays. The daughter nucleus is an isotope.
Unlike the other modes of radioactive decay, the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of the atom are not changed. Instead, the energy level of the atom is lowered by one to a stable state.
http://images.tutorvista.com
Another example is of gamma decay of Technetium-99m into Technetium-99, where 'm' stands for metastable, which in terms of an atom, ion or atomic nucleus, means that the atom is in an excited state: