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Where do the 2 outer electrons go when Uranium loses an alpha particle?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Electrons do not go anywhere. Alpha decay involves the loss of two protons and two neutrons from the nucleus (it is beta decay which involves the loss of an electron, and other particle changes).
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIn practice, electrons are actually allowed to go almost anywhere they want. They might have gone off with the alpha particle, but it is probably too hot and fast for them to catch up with. So they go looking for their perfect match, which, happily for them, is probably the first ion they find. Any proton will do, with the combination forming a hydrogen atom. But of course, if the hydrogen atom binds with anything at all, the electron is likely to be shared between them. Anyhow, the critters have lots of options, so there is no need to worry - they almost never get really lost.
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When an atom loses or gain this type of particle the mass nbr changes?
electrons
When an unstable nucleus produces an alpha particle by how many units does the atomic number of the nucleus change?
An alpha particle is a helium nucleus, which consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. When an unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle, it loses 2 protons, which means its atomic number will be reduced by 2.
What change is atomic number occurs when a nucleus emits an alpha particle?
An alpha particle is composed of two protons and two neutrons, so when an atom loses an alpha particle, its mass number decreases by four. However, since the atom loses two protons, it is now a different element. It is now the element with an atomic number minus the two protons.
A charged particle results from losing or gaining electrons?
Yes. A particle that loses an electron becomes an ion with a positive charge. A particle that gains an electron becomes an ion with a negative charge.
What is the effect on the mass number and charge of a nucleus when it loses and alpha particle?
Whwn an alpha particle is lost we lose 2units of +ve charges and 4 units of mass no. So we are left with mass no.(M-4) and charge (C-2) M=initial mass no. C=initial charge Here 1 unit of charge used is= 1*1.6*10^-19 coulomb
To what does plutonium-239 decay when it loses an alpha particle?
Yes, plutonium-239 emits alpha particles by decay.
Why does an ion form?
The particle in question gains or loses electrons.
What does ionization mean?
Alpha particles have a big mass and a charge of +2. The positive charge means they cause lots of ionization in a short distance. Each time the alpha particle rips an electron off a molecule it loses some energy and slows down a bit. An alpha particle might make 100 000 ionizations before it loses all its energy. It grabs two electrons and becomes a helium atom. An alpha particle will ionize most air molecules it passes close to, which is why it loses energy so quickly and has a short range in air. This is why the cloud trails are short and fat. The alpha particle has quite a big mass. So it's difficult to change its direction. This makes the path straight.
What is a particle that loses electrons and acquires a positive charge?
A cation is an atom that has lost one or more electrons and thus became a positively charged particle.
When an atom loses or gain this type of particle the mass nbr changes?
electrons
Does alpha decay always decreases the number of protons by an even number?
Yes, an alpha radiation particle is 2 protons and 2 neutrons so for every alpha particle emitted the radioactive nuclide loses 2 protons.
When an atom gains or loses a valence electrons it becomes a charged particle called a?
Ion
When an atom gains or loses one or more electrons it becomes a particle called an?
ion
When an unstable nucleus produces an alpha particle by how many units does the atomic number of the nucleus change?
An alpha particle is a helium nucleus, which consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. When an unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle, it loses 2 protons, which means its atomic number will be reduced by 2.
What is the effect on the mass number and change of a nucleus when it loses alpha particles?
The mass number goes down by 4, and the atomic number goes down by 2 when a nucleus loses an alpha particle. XYZ --> alpha emission --> X-2Y-4Q + 24He2+
Which subatomic particle changes when an atom becomes an ion?
When an atom becomes ionized, it gains or loses electrons (usually one).
What change is atomic number occurs when a nucleus emits an alpha particle?
An alpha particle is composed of two protons and two neutrons, so when an atom loses an alpha particle, its mass number decreases by four. However, since the atom loses two protons, it is now a different element. It is now the element with an atomic number minus the two protons.
