I was wondering if reach spell is treated as a ray if it deals elemental damage. I noticed recently that in the Words of Power rules the Target Word, Select treats all energy damage at range as rays.
Selected
Level 0
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
A wordspell with this target word affects a single target within range. If the wordspell deals energy damage, this word creates a ray that requires a ranged touch attack to hit, or it can be used as a melee touch attack with no range (decided by the wordcaster when the wordspell is cast). If it is used as a melee touch attack and the attack misses, the wordcaster can hold the charge and try again with subsequent attacks.
No, it's not a ray, it's a ranged touch attack.
Rays are a type of ranged touch attack, but not all ranged touch attacks are rays.
Actually "Ray" is just flavor text, there is no special rule that makes Rays work differently from other ranged touch attacks. (Unless you Quote 3.5 sources where there exists a feat specifically to split rays in two and a prestig classes that specifically benefit from or modify ray's).
Ray is not flavor text. A Ray is treated as a weapon so you can take feats like Weapon Focus (Ray) and apply effects that affect weapons such as Inspire Courage.
A ranged touch attack is not a weapon, it's just an attack.