AAMC FL Practice Exam

What is emitted during gamma decay?

1. Neutrino

2. Alpha particle

3. Electron

4. Photons

The correct answer is: Photons

During gamma decay, the nucleus of an atom transitions from a higher energy state to a lower energy state by emitting energy in the form of gamma radiation. This radiation consists of high-energy photons, which are packets of electromagnetic energy. The emission of gamma photons does not involve any change in the number of protons or neutrons in the nucleus, distinguishing it from other types of decay such as alpha or beta decay. Photons emitted during gamma decay carry away the excess energy without altering the mass number or atomic number of the element, making this process crucial for the stabilization of the nucleus after a previous decay or repositioning of its components. The energy of the emitted photons can be very high, making gamma radiation a significant form of energy release in radioactive decay scenarios. This helps to understand why the correct answer highlights photons as the byproduct of this specific decay process.