Question

Which nuclear phenomenon produces a change in the mass number of a nucleus?

1. alpha decay

2. electron capture

3. gamma ray emission

4. positron emission

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer is 1.

Explanation: There are various process in which a radioactive nuclei decays:

1) Alpha Decay: In this process, a heavier nuclei decays into lighter nuclei by releasing alpha particle. The mass number is reduced by 4 units.

`_A^Z\textrm{X}\rightarrow _(A-2)^(Z-4)+_2^4\alpha`

2) Electron capture: In this decay process, a parent nuclei absorbs an electron and gets converted into a neutron. Simply, a proton and an electron combines together to form a neutron. Mass number does not change in this process.

`_A^Z\textrm{X}+_(-1)^0\textrm{e}\rightarrow _(Z-1)^A\textrm{Y}`

3) Gamma ray emission: It is a decay process in which an unstable nuclei gives excess energy by a spontaneous electromagnetic process. This decay releases
`\gamma -radiations`. This process does not change the mass number.

`_A^Z\textrm{X}^*\rightarrow _A^Z\textrm{X}+_0^0\gamma`

4) Positron emission: It is a type of decay process, in which a proton gets converted to neutron and an electron neutrino. This is also known as
`\beta ^+`-decay. In this the mass number remains same.

`_A^Z\textrm{X}\rightarrow _(Z-1)^A\textrm{Y}+_(+1)^0e`

From the above information, we see that only alpha-decay is producing a change in the mass number of the nucleus.