What happens to the mass number and atomic number of an element when it emits γ -radiation? (a) Mass number increases by four and atomic number increases by two. (b) Mass number decreases by four and atomic number decreases by two. (c) Mass number and atomic number remain unchanged. (d) Mass number remains unchanged while atomic number decreases by one.

Answer: (c). A γ -ray is a photon emitted when an excited nucleus falls to a lower energy state. It carries no charge and no mass number, so A and Z do not change. So the answer is (c) Mass number and atomic number remain unchanged.

What happens to the mass number and atomic number of an element when… | NEET 2020 (Phase 2)

Q19NEET 2020 · PHASE 2Easy

Radioactive Decays: Alpha, Beta, Gamma

What happens to the mass number and atomic number of an element when it emits $\gamma$ -radiation?

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Answer: (c)

A $\gamma$ -ray is a photon emitted when an excited nucleus falls to a lower energy state.
It carries no charge and no mass number, so $A$ and $Z$ do not change.
So the answer is (c) Mass number and atomic number remain unchanged.

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