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A gamma decay is simply emission of a photon. Technically, there must be a tiny mass loss of E/c2 . Decay is not reallya goodword because there is no loss of electrons, neutrons or protons so the nucleus is unchanged in its make-up. There is of course energy decay.

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What is lost in an atom as a result of radioactive decay What equations relates this loss to energy produced?

Alpha decay is the loss of 2 protons and 2 neutrons Beta-decay is the loss of a positron or electron Gamma decay is the loss of a photon The equation relates this loss to energy produced E=mc^2


What happened to the mass of an atom that decays by alpha decay?

During alpha decay, an atom emits an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons. As a result, the original atom loses mass equivalent to the mass of the alpha particle released. This loss of mass results in a decrease in the atomic mass of the parent atom, and according to Einstein's equation (E=mc^2), the lost mass is converted into energy, which is released during the decay process.


What are the changes to the atom during gamma radiation?

Gamma emission is not a decay process. It is a restabilization process of the nucleus in response to some other decay process, such as alpha or beta, which leaves the nucleus in an excited state. When the nucleus comes down from that excited state it emits a photon of energy equal to the step change in energy that was made. Short answer: The atomic mass or atomic number of a nucleus is not changed, specifically, by the gamma emission, but it is changed by the precipitating alpha or beta (or other) event that left the nucleus in an excited state. Slightly more correct answer: The mass of the nucleus is decreased by the equivalent mass of the loss of energy that occurs. This ratio is e=mc2, where c2 is 9 x 1018, so you can see that the delta mass due to gamma emission is very, very small.


Over time what will happend to the radioactive atom?

They experience radioactive decay. They emit radiation, changing the state of their nucleus, usually by the loss of protons and neutrons. However, this process is completely random; it can only be predicted as a half-life, or the amount of time it takes half of a certain material to decay. This does not predict when an individual atom will decay, it only predicts when approximately half of the material will have decayed.


What happens to the atomic number when an isotope releases gamma radiation?

It depends on what caused the gamma event in the first place.Strictly speaking, gamma radiation is caused by the de-excitation of the nucleus, so the atomic number (and Atomic Mass) does not change during a gamma event.However, the gamma event is usually precipitated by some other event, such as a beta or alpha decay that does change the configuration of the nucleus. An alpha event reduces the atomic number by 2 (and reduces the atomic mass by 4), while the beta event increases the atomic number by 1 (and does not change the atomic mass very much).Its actually more complex than that, but the answer to the original question is that nothing really happens to the atomic number during a gamma event.

Related Questions

What is lost in an atom as a result of radioactive decay What equations relates this loss to energy produced?

Alpha decay is the loss of 2 protons and 2 neutrons Beta-decay is the loss of a positron or electron Gamma decay is the loss of a photon The equation relates this loss to energy produced E=mc^2


What happens to an atom that experiences radioactive decay?

It loses mass.


Which type of decay does not result in the change of one element into another?

Alpha decay does not result in the change of one element into another element. In alpha decay, a radioactive atom emits an alpha particle, which is a helium nucleus consisting of two protons and two neutrons. The parent atom loses two protons through this process, but it remains the same element because its atomic number decreases by 2 to account for the lost protons.


What type of radioactive decay involves only the release of high energy photons and therefore does not change the mass of the radionuclide?

There is no normal process by which a nucleus can release energy without changing the element. Even gamma radiation, which is photon emission from the nucleus during a restabilization sequence, has a predecessor, i.e. usually beta or alpha, which does change the element.


How does alpha beta and gamma decay change the nucleus?

Gamma decay is the release of energy, but does not in itself change the nucleas Alpha decay is the loss of 2 protrons and 2 neutrons, lowering the atomic number by 2 and mass number by 4 Beta can occur as a result of a neutron turning into a protron, raising the atomic number by 1 and charge by 1


An atom of 134 84 PO decays by alpha decay Which atom is left after the decay?

130 on the top Pb on the left 82 on the bottom


What happened to the mass of an atom that decays by alpha decay?

During alpha decay, an atom emits an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons. As a result, the original atom loses mass equivalent to the mass of the alpha particle released. This loss of mass results in a decrease in the atomic mass of the parent atom, and according to Einstein's equation (E=mc^2), the lost mass is converted into energy, which is released during the decay process.


What are the changes to the atom during gamma radiation?

Gamma emission is not a decay process. It is a restabilization process of the nucleus in response to some other decay process, such as alpha or beta, which leaves the nucleus in an excited state. When the nucleus comes down from that excited state it emits a photon of energy equal to the step change in energy that was made. Short answer: The atomic mass or atomic number of a nucleus is not changed, specifically, by the gamma emission, but it is changed by the precipitating alpha or beta (or other) event that left the nucleus in an excited state. Slightly more correct answer: The mass of the nucleus is decreased by the equivalent mass of the loss of energy that occurs. This ratio is e=mc2, where c2 is 9 x 1018, so you can see that the delta mass due to gamma emission is very, very small.


Do radioactive emissions have a charge?

Depends on what type of radioactive decay you are talking about. Beta decay (electron or positron) will have a charge, while alpha decay will not. Beta decay can either be positron decay or electron decay. Positron will result in the parent to have the same atomic mass but a different atomic number. The atomic number will be one less than that of the parent. Meaning one proton will decay into a neutron and a positron, which is a positively charged particle. Electron decay results in the parent gaining a proton while the atomic mass stays the same. A neutron decays into a proton and an electron and the electron is emitted with a negative charge. Alpha decay, however, results in the emission of a neutral helium particle. Gamma decay results in the same parent with no loss of charge or atomic number and gives off a high energy photon called a gamma particle.


What type of radiation results in the least change in atomic number?

A gamma ray is released from atomic nuclei under certain conditions, and the generation of a gamma ray photon alonewill not change the mass of an atomic nucleus. The gamma ray is a form of electromagnetic energy. Other forms of radiation released from nuclei are particulate, and the particles released take mass from the nucleus with them when they go. Beta radiation takes a little, and alpha radiation takes a lot more.


Do gamma rays cause a loss of vision?

Like other dangerous things going in a person's eyes, gamma rays can also cause serious damage to a person's eyes. The gamma rays can go through the eye tissue and mess up the cataracts and other sensitive parts in the back of a person's eye.


Alpha decay and beta decay are two forms of decay that cause transmutation?

Transmutation, which is the change of atoms from one element to another.