The equation [} 226 88 Raarrow (Y)/(X)Ra+ gamma radiation] is an example of GAMMA decay. What are the VALUES of Y and X ? Y=226-1=225 X=88-1=87 Y=226-0=226 X=88-1=87 Y=226-1=225 X=88-0=88 Y=226-0=226 X=88-0=88

This is a chemistry question concerning gamma decay, a type of radioactive decay. Radiactive decay involves the process in which unstable atomic nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation in form of particles or electromagnetic waves. Alpha and beta decay both involve the loss of particles from the nucleus, and as a result, they change the atomic number, and hence the identity, of the nucleus. Gamma decay, however, is a process by which the unstable nucleus "shifts" from a higher energy state to a lower energy state, in order to achieve a more stable lower energy state. There is no physical emission, just the radiation in the form of electromagnetic waves, specifically, gamma waves. As such, in the given the equation, you notice that the values of and on the right hand side shouldn't be less than or greater than the numbers on the left hand side, comparing what happens when the radio isotope undergoes gamma decay. Thus the atomic number and mass shouldn't change, indicating this was not a decay that involved the loss or gain of particles, which is common in other types of radioactive decay like alpha or beta, but radiation emitted to adjust to a lower, more stable energy state.