Asked by brent
Which statement describes what is gained or lost during radioactive decay?
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GPT-5 mini
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Radioactive decay changes the nucleus by emitting nuclear particles and/or energy. Common outcomes:
- Alpha decay: the nucleus loses an alpha particle (2 protons + 2 neutrons). Atomic number Z ↓ by 2, mass number A ↓ by 4.
- Beta minus decay: a neutron converts to a proton and an electron (beta particle) is emitted. Z ↑ by 1, A unchanged.
- Beta plus (positron) decay: a proton converts to a neutron and a positron is emitted. Z ↓ by 1, A unchanged.
- Gamma decay: the nucleus loses energy as high‑energy photons; Z and A do not change.
So what is “gained or lost” is nuclear particles (protons/neutrons or beta/positron) and/or energy (gamma). A tiny amount of mass is also converted to energy.
- Alpha decay: the nucleus loses an alpha particle (2 protons + 2 neutrons). Atomic number Z ↓ by 2, mass number A ↓ by 4.
- Beta minus decay: a neutron converts to a proton and an electron (beta particle) is emitted. Z ↑ by 1, A unchanged.
- Beta plus (positron) decay: a proton converts to a neutron and a positron is emitted. Z ↓ by 1, A unchanged.
- Gamma decay: the nucleus loses energy as high‑energy photons; Z and A do not change.
So what is “gained or lost” is nuclear particles (protons/neutrons or beta/positron) and/or energy (gamma). A tiny amount of mass is also converted to energy.
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