Question

Which decay does not cause the atom to lose its identity?

• A. $\alpha$ decay
• B. ${\beta }^{-}$ decay
• C. ${\beta }^{+}$ decay
• D. Electron capture
• E. $\gamma$ - decay

Answer 1

The correct option is E $\gamma$ - decay

In gamma decay, the atom in its excited state comes to its ground state by emitting a gamma ray but the atom does not lose its identity.

$\gamma$ decay : ${}_Z^A{X}^{\ast }{\to }_Z^{A}X+\gamma$ (* represents the excited state)