When a nucleus in an excited state decays to the ground state,the particle emitted is
A)an alpha particle.
B)a beta particle.
C)a gamma ray.
D)an x-ray.
E)none of the above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a nucleus in an excited state decays to the ground state, it releases energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation, which is a gamma ray. An alpha particle is released during alpha decay, and a beta particle is released during beta decay. X-rays can be emitted from atoms during electron transitions, but not during nuclear decay. Therefore, the best choice is C, a gamma ray.

When a Nucleus in an Excited State Decays to the Ground