INFORMATION:
We have the next options:
A. Gamma
B. Sigma
C. Alpha
D. Beta
And we must select the one that is not the name of a form of nuclear decay
STEP BY STEP EXPLANATION:
To select the correct answer, we need to know that
There are some types of nuclear decay:
- Alpha Decay: a nucleus actually breaks up into two chunks: a pair of protons bound to a pair of neutrons (a collection of four particles which is essentially a helium nucleus, and is called an alpha particle), and another piece constituting the original nucleus minus this chunk.
- Beta Decay: one of the neutrons in the nucleus suddenly changes into a proton, causing an increase in the atomic number of an element.
- Gamma decay: the nucleus emits radiation without actually changing its composition: We start with a nucleus with 12 protons and 12 neutrons, and we end up with a nucleus with 12 protons and 12 neutrons… but somehow radiation gets released along the way!
Then, since we know that Alpha, Beta and Gamma are types of nuclear decay, we can determine that the one that it not the name of a form of nuclear decay is Sigma.
ANSWER:
B. Sigma