Question

If a nucleus decays by gamma decay to a daughter nucleus, which of the following statements about this decay are correct? (There may be more than one correct choice.)
a)The daughter nucleus has fewer protons than the original nucleus.

b)The daughter nucleus has the same number of nucleons as the original nucleus.

c)The daughter nucleus has more protons than the original nucleus.

d)The daughter nucleus has fewer neutrons than the original nucleus. The daughter nucleus has more neutrons than the original nucleus

Answer 1

Answer: Option (b) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

A gamma particle is basically a photon of electromagnetic radiation with a short wavelength.

Symbol of a gamma particle is $^{0}_{0}\gamma$. Hence, charge on a gamma particle is also 0.

For example, $^{234}_{91}Pa \rightarrow ^{234}_{91}Pa + ^{0}_{0}\gamma + Energy$

So, when a nucleus decays by gamma decay to a daughter nucleus then there will occur no change in the number of protons and neutrons of the parent atom but there will be loss of energy as a nuclear reaction has occurred.

Thus, we can conclude that the statement daughter nucleus has the same number of nucleons as the original nucleus., is correct about if  a nucleus decays by gamma decay to a daughter nucleus.