Final answer:
An electromagnetic wave with a frequency of 10^16 Hz is most likely to be an X-ray, as X-rays have frequencies between 10^16 and 10^20 Hz.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which type of electromagnetic wave has a frequency of 1016. From the electromagnetic spectrum, we know that different types of electromagnetic waves have different frequencies and wavelengths. The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength, and vice versa.
The list of electromagnetic waves in increasing order of frequency is: radio waves, microwaves, infrared (IR) radiation, visible light, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays. According to the given ranges, gamma rays have frequencies between 1020 and 1024, X-rays between 1016 and 1020, and ultraviolet (UV) between 1015 and 1017.
Therefore, an electromagnetic wave with a frequency of 1016 is most likely to be an X-ray.