Gamma emission from a nucleus results in
- A. a change in mass number only
- B. a change in atomic number only
- C. no change in either mass number or atomic number
- D. a change in both
Explanation
A gamma ray carries away energy from an excited nucleus without removing any nucleons, so the nuclide is the same afterwards, simply in a lower energy state. Gamma emission usually follows alpha or beta decay, which often leaves the daughter nucleus excited. It is the nuclear analogue of an atom emitting a photon of light.