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AssignmentMultiple Choice

Balancing Nuclear Reactions

Question 1 • Foothill-B Period-Chemistry-26/27B

Which form of emission is commonly not written in nuclear equations because they do not affect charges, atomic numbers, or mass numbers?

Answer
A
alpha particle
B
beta particle
C
gamma ray

Explanation

A gamma ray is electromagnetic radiation with no electric charge and no mass number. It therefore does not change an atom’s atomic number or mass number, so it is commonly omitted from nuclear equations. Alpha and beta particles do affect nuclear accounting.

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