Radium-226 does not decay by beta decay. It decays by alpha decay to radon-222.
Decay
Radium 226 decays by alpha emission to Radon 222. A helium nucleus is emitted by alpha emission which makes the mass reduce by 4 and its atomic number by 2.
Radium undergoes radioactive decay, specifically alpha decay, to become radon. Radium-226 (226Ra) will undergo alpha decay releasing that alpha particle, which is a helium-4 nucleus, to become radon-222 (222Rn).
Radium-226 does not decay by beta decay. It decays by alpha decay to radon-222.
Radium-226--------------------Radon-222 + alpha
The equation for the alpha decay of 226Ra: 88226Ra --> 86222Rn + 24He The alpha particle is represented as a helium (He) nucleus.
Decay
Nuclear decay.
This isotope is radium-226.
Radium 226 decays by alpha emission to Radon 222. A helium nucleus is emitted by alpha emission which makes the mass reduce by 4 and its atomic number by 2.
Radium 226 (the most stable isotope) is a radioactive decay product of uranium; other isotopes of radium with short half lives exist in the thorium, actinium and neptunium decay series. See the link.
Radium undergoes radioactive decay, specifically alpha decay, to become radon. Radium-226 (226Ra) will undergo alpha decay releasing that alpha particle, which is a helium-4 nucleus, to become radon-222 (222Rn).
The naturally occurring isotope of radium we encounter is radium-226. It appears in the decay chain of uranium. When radium-226 undergoes alpha decay, radon-222 is the result. The equation looks like this: 88226Ra => 24He + 86222Rn The 24He is the alpha particle, which is a helium nucleus.
While there are some stable synthetic elements (eg technetium) and also naturally occurring elements which are radioactively unstable (eg radium), synthetic elements are more likely to be radioactively unstable. Their decay process produces radioactive emissions which are hazardous.