Question #2758c
1 Answer
Dec 3, 2017
For an alpha decay, the mass number gets reduced by 4 amus. For beta and gamma decay, it remains the same.
Explanation:
A beta decay happens when a proton turns into a neutron, thus releasing a electron from the atom. Beta radiation is a wave of electrons. Since a neutron turned into a proton, the amu stays the same. For a gamma decay, it happens when an atom in a high energy state releases a photon(light-transmitting particles). It is a gamma ray released from the atom. Since nothing happened to the number of protons and neutrons, the amu stays the same.
