What type of radiation is emitted during radioactivity?

Radioactivity refers to the process by which unstable atomic nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation. This radiation can take several forms, including alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays.

Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons (essentially the nucleus of a helium atom) and are emitted by heavy elements when they undergo alpha decay. Beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons (or positrons) that are emitted during beta decay, which occurs when a neutron converts into a proton or vice versa. Gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic radiation that often accompany alpha or beta decay, allowing the nucleus to shed excess energy without changing its mass or charge.

The combination of these three types of radiation—alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays—demonstrates the variety of ways in which radioactive decay can occur. This broad spectrum of emissions is characteristic of radioactivity, making it clear that the answer includes all three types of these emissions.

In contrast, choosing only one type of radiation, such as alpha or beta particles alone, neglects the other significant forms emitted during decay. X-rays are also a form of electromagnetic radiation, but they are not emitted during the radioactive decay process; instead, they are typically produced in other contexts,