How do you describe the process of gamma decay?

Answer 1

Gamma decay is one of three main types of radioactive decay. The other two are alpha and beta. In gamma decay, particles known as gamma rays are emitted. Gamma rays are actually high energy photons, the particle analogue of an electromagnetic wave.

First of all, what is a radioactive decay? Well, we can start by saying that radioactive substances are highly unstable. As such, they strive to attain stability and in the process, undergo what is known as radioactive decay. You can think of a radioactive substance as being made up of highly unstable nuclei (made up of protons and neutrons). It is actually these nuclei that undergo radioactive decay.

When each unstable nucleus decays, it loses a great amount of energy. This energy can come in the form of either an alpha particle (a Helium nucleus), a beta particle (an electron or positron), or a gamma particle (also known as a gamma ray). When a gamma particle is the one emitted, then the decay is known as a gamma decay.

While alpha and beta decays occur because there are either too much neutrons compared to protons or too much protons compared to neutrons in the nucleus (this is why the nucleus is unstable), gamma decay simply occurs because the nucleus is in an excited or highly energetic state and hence has to 'relax' a bit.

When this nucleus jumps down to a less energetic state, it releases the unwanted energy in the form of an electromagnetic wave which, as stated earlier, is the gamma ray.

Among all three emitted particles in radioactive decay processes, gamma particles are the most penetrating. While alpha particles can be stopped by a sheet of paper and beta particles, by an aluminum plate, gamma particles can only be stopped by a thick dense material such as lead. Reminds you of Superman, does it?

Because of the high penetrating capabilities of its emitted particles, gamma decay is considered the greatest threat among the three. Radioactive substances in laboratories are kept inside Lead-sealed cabinets. Some even have Lead-sealed lab rooms. This design is made specifically for the purpose of preventing gamma rays from passing through.

Gamma rays that strike human cells can dislodge electrons from atoms comprising the cells because of the rays' ionizing property. This can leave the atom with a positive charge, causing it to interact with other atoms beside it and subsequently damaging the cell.

Answer 2

Gamma decay occurs when the nucleus undergoes an energy state change without actually changing the number or ratio of nucleons.

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Technetium-99m (99mTc) is an example of such an atom. Its nucleus is the isomer of Technetium-99 (99Tc), and as an isomer, Technetium-99m rests at a higher energy state than the ground state Technetium-99. Both variations of Technetium-99 have exactly the same number of protons and neutrons. The technetium-99m nucleus spontaneously decays to the stable technetium-99 through emission of a photon, or gamma particle, with a half life of 6 hours.

Answer 3

Gamma comes from the re-stabilization of the nucleus following an event that leaves it in an excited state. There are many examples. One is 47Be, which decays by beta+ to 37Li with a half-life of 53 days. Following the transition of one of the protons to a neutron, the nucleus emits a photon of energy 477.6 KeV as the nucleus returns to ground state. That is a gamma ray.

Answer 4

Gamma decay occurs when the protons and neutrons in a nucleus in an excited energy state drop to a lower energy state that is more stable. The excess energy is carried away from the nucleus by a gamma ray photon.

This process is analogous to electrons in orbitals in an excited energy state dropping to an orbital in a lower energy state, the excess energy is carried away from the atom by a photon (e.g. visible light, ultraviolet).

Answer 5

Gamma rays (photons) are emitted and the nucleus gains greater stability.

Answer 6

The release of an excited photon (or something of that caliber)

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Answer 7

The number of gamma rays passing through a unit area in a unit time.

Answer 8

An atom decays, and in the process gives off energy, as a high-energy photon. That's the gamma radiation.