Answer: alpha decay and beta decay cause the parent nucleus to become a different element.
Explanation:
Alpha decay : It is a radioactive decay in which nucleus emits an alpha particle and turns into different atomic nucleus. During alpha decay, an atom loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
[tex]_Z^A\textrm{X}\rightarrow _{Z-2}^{A-4}\textrm{Y}+_2^4\alpha[/tex]
Beta decay is defined as the process in which beta particle is emitted. In this process, a neutron gets converted to a proton and an electron.Thus a different element is produced.
[tex]_Z^A\textrm{X}\rightarrow _{Z+1}^A\textrm{Y}+_{-1}^0\beta[/tex]
Gamma decay : In this process, the unstable nuclei transformed into stable nuclei by releasing gamma rays along with beta or alpha decay.The same element is produced.
[tex]_Z^A\textrm{X}^*\rightarrow _Z^A\textrm{X}+_0^0\gamma[/tex]
