Radioactive decay: A radioactive nuclide of atomic number Z emits an electron, then the daughter nuclide emits a gamma ray. What is the atomic number of the resulting nuclide after both processes?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a radioactive nuclide emits an electron (beta decay), its atomic number increases by 1, becoming Z + 1. The emission of a gamma ray does not change the atomic number, so the resulting nuclide remains at Z + 1.

Radioactive Decay: a Radioactive Nuclide of Atomic Number Z Emits