Question

What happens to the atomic number of the nucleus when γ radiation is emitted?

Answer 1

Hint: The emission of gamma rays γ does not alter the number of protons or neutrons in the nucleus but instead has the effect of moving the nucleus from a higher to a lower energy state (unstable to stable).

Complete step by step answer:
When Gamma radiation is emitted there is no change in the number of protons or neutrons in the nucleus. Therefore the atomic number of the nucleus remains unchanged.
Gamma rays can be harmful due to the fact that they are generally very high energy and therefore penetrate so easily. It is also useful for medical purposes for the treatment of cancer. But they can't alter the state of the nucleus.

Additional information: Gamma decay is one type of radioactive decay that a nucleus can undergo. In gamma decay, a nucleus changes from a higher energy state to a lower energy state through the emission of electromagnetic radiation (photons). The number of protons (and neutrons) in the nucleus does not change in this process, so the parent and daughter atoms are the same chemical element.
In order for the nucleus to undergo gamma decay, it must be in a sort of excited state. When proton or neutron inside the nucleus jumps up to an excited state-generally following alpha or beta decay-the new daughter nucleus must somehow release energy to allow the proton or neutron to relax back down to ground state. When the nucleon makes this transition from a high to a low energy state, a gamma photon is emitted. Gamma ray emission frequently follows beta decay, alpha decay, and other nuclear decay processes.

Note: Gamma rays are having the smallest wavelength among the other electromagnetic waves and the most energy of any other wave in the electromagnetic spectrum. These waves are generally produced by radioactive atoms and in nuclear explosions.