* Gamma decay (γ): This process involves the emission of a gamma ray, which is a high-energy photon. Gamma rays have no mass or charge, so they do not affect the atomic number or mass number of the nucleus.
* Internal Conversion (IC): In this process, an excited nucleus interacts with an inner atomic electron, causing it to be ejected from the atom. The energy released is then carried away by the ejected electron. Like gamma decay, this process does not involve the emission of particles that affect the atomic number.
It is important to note that:
* Beta-minus decay (β-) increases the atomic number by converting a neutron into a proton.
* Beta-plus decay (β+) decreases the atomic number by converting a proton into a neutron.
* Alpha decay (α) decreases the atomic number by emitting an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons.
Therefore, only gamma decay and internal conversion do not affect the atomic number of a nuclide.
