What happens to the position of an element in the periodic table when its nucleus emits γ radiation? Give a reason for your answer.
What happens to the position of an element in the periodic table when its nucleus emits γ radiation? Give a reason for your answer.

Solution:

(c) The element holds the same place in the periodic table as it did before it emitted radiation.

Reason: If a parent nucleus X creates a new daughter nucleus Y as a result of decay, the decay can be described as follows:


As a result, the resultant nucleus has the same atomic number as the parent element. Hence occupies the same position in the periodic table.