**Question:** Phosphorous-32 emits

Core Concept: Phosphorous-32 is a radioactive isotope of phosphorus used in nuclear medicine for various applications, including the production of gamma radiation for diagnostic imaging.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right:** Phosphorous-32 (P-32) is a radioactive isotope that decays by beta (β-) decay, resulting in the emission of a beta particle (electron) and gamma radiation. The emitted radiation is useful for diagnostic imaging in nuclear medicine.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect:**

A. **Beta (β-) decay:** Phosphorous-32 does undergo beta decay, but the correct answer is gamma radiation, not beta radiation.

B. **Gamma (γ-) decay:** Phosphorous-32 does not undergo gamma decay because gamma radiation is emitted in the form of electromagnetic radiation, which phosphorous-32 does not produce.

C. **Alpha (α-) decay:** Phosphorous-32 does not undergo alpha decay, as alpha decay involves the emission of helium nuclei, which phosphorous-32 does not do.

D. **Gamma (γ-) decay:** As mentioned earlier, phosphorous-32 does not emit gamma radiation.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact:** Phosphorous-32 is one of the isotopes used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, a valuable imaging technique for diagnosing various diseases and monitoring treatment outcomes in oncology, neurology, and cardiology.

**Correct Answer:** D. Gamma (γ-) decay

Phosphorous-32 undergoes beta (β-) decay, not gamma (γ-) decay. Phosphorous-32 is used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans as an imaging agent, and the emitted radiation is gamma radiation, not beta radiation.