answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

No, an alpha particle is not identical to an electron. An alpha particle is a helium-4 nucleus, and it's composed of a pair of protons and a pair of neutrons fused together. It several thousand times the mass of an electron, and has twice its charge with an opposite sign (+2). An electron is that little negatively charged (-1) elementary particle that we find whizzing around atoms. You'll find a pair of related questions linked below.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Yes, an alpha particle is bigger than an electron. The alpha particle is a pair of protons and a pair of neutrons fused together. It's actually a helium-4 nucleus. It's also several thousand times the mass of the electron.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

No. The electron is lighter. An alpha particle is essentially a very fast moving helium nucleus, made of two protons and two neutrons, which in turn are about 1000 times heavier than the electron.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Is an alpha particle lighter than an electron?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

Is alpha particles heavier than beta particles?

Yes. A beta particle is just an electron, while an alpha particle is effectively a helium nucleus - two protons plus two neutrons. Protons (and neutrons) are each about 2000 times heavier than an electron. Therefore, an alpha particle is about 8000 times heavier than a beta particle.


A beta particle differs from an alpha particle in that it?

A beta particle is an electron or a positron, with a charge of -1 or +1, and a mass of about 1/1836 of a proton. An alpha particle, on the other hand is a helium nucleus, with a charge of +2, and a mass of two protons and two neutrons. The beta particle has more penetration ability than the alpha particle, but the alpha particle is more biologically dangerous when in close proximity to sensitive tissue, such as when inhaled into the lungs.


Why beta particales are harder to stop than alpha particales?

Beta particles are made of a single electron, therefore are much smaller than the alpha particle, which is made of 2 protons and 2 neutrons


How much alpha particle is heavier than neutron?

An Alpha particle is composed of two protons and two neutrons, so simplisticly it is heavier than one neutron by the mass of two protons and one neutron. A proton weighs in at 1.672621777(74)×10−27 kg and a neutron a bit more at 1.674927351(74)×10−27 so you can do the maths if u want to see the actual figure.


Why is it impossible for helium or hydrogen to emit an alpha particle?

Because an alpha particle is bigger than a helium or hydrogen atom.

Related questions

Which has the largest mass alpha particle gamma ray positron or beta particle?

The alpha particle is much more massive than a beta particle. A beta particle is an electron, which has very little mass. An alpha particle is a helium nucleus, and consists of two protons and two neutrons.


Is alpha particles heavier than beta particles?

Yes. A beta particle is just an electron, while an alpha particle is effectively a helium nucleus - two protons plus two neutrons. Protons (and neutrons) are each about 2000 times heavier than an electron. Therefore, an alpha particle is about 8000 times heavier than a beta particle.


Why do alpha particle have higher ionizaion energy than beta particle?

Alpha particles are far more massive. Alpha particle is an (ionized) helium atom, a beta particle is just an electron.


Who is the smallest electron neutron proton or alpha particle?

Protons and neutrons are the same size relatively, and are bigger than alpha particles and electrons; but, electrons are smaller than alpha particles.


Why alpha particle has lowest specific charge than electron and protonGive reason?

The question is incorrect. (Either that, or I don't know what "specific charge" means.) The alpha particle has a charge of +2, while the proton is +1 and the electron is -1.If you are talking about charge to mass ratio, however, it is true that the alpha particle has a mass of about 4 amu, while the proton is 1 amu, and the electron is 1/1836 amu. This makes the charge to mass ratio of the alpha particle to only be about 0.25, while the proton is 1.0 and the electron is -1836.


A beta particle differs from an alpha particle in that it?

A beta particle is an electron or a positron, with a charge of -1 or +1, and a mass of about 1/1836 of a proton. An alpha particle, on the other hand is a helium nucleus, with a charge of +2, and a mass of two protons and two neutrons. The beta particle has more penetration ability than the alpha particle, but the alpha particle is more biologically dangerous when in close proximity to sensitive tissue, such as when inhaled into the lungs.


Why beta particales are harder to stop than alpha particales?

Beta particles are made of a single electron, therefore are much smaller than the alpha particle, which is made of 2 protons and 2 neutrons


Whats the name of Dark matter lighter than an electron?

There aren't any. Even the smallest particle of the dark matter theory, the axion, is quadrillions of times more dense than an electron.


Which particle is the lightest particale in the following 1. electon 2. neutron 3. proton 4. a-particles?

The electron is the lightest particle in the list. A proton is 1836 times more massive than an electron. Neutrons are just slightly more massive than a proton, and an alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons.


Why are alpha and beta rays deflected in opposite directions in a magnetic field?

An alpha particle, which is a 24He nucleus, has a mass of 4 and a charge of +2. A beta particle has a charge of +1 or -1, depending on whether it is a positron (beta +) or an electron (beta -). It's mass is minuscule compared to the alpha particle, and it will undergo a comparatively huge deflection in the same field as an alpha particle would. Though the alpha particle has twice the charge as a beta particle, it has several thousand times the mass of that beta particle. As it is so much more massive than the beta particle, its inertia will be much more difficult to overcome even though it has twice the charge.


If an atom is encased in an electron shell than how does alpha radiation pass through the shell?

It isn't actually a shell, it is a layer of minuscule electrons that are around 6560 times smaller than the alpha particle and are constantly moving, orbiting the nucleus of the atom, so there is a lot of space between them for the particle to be released.


Why is it impossible for helium or hydrogen to emit an alpha particle?

Because an alpha particle is bigger than a helium or hydrogen atom.