Why is alpha decay so dangerous?

Answer 1

Alpha particles are dangerous because they are a form of ionizing radiation. Alpha decay is one form or radioactive decay, and an alpha particle is a helium-4 nucleus. It's a form of particulate radiation, and it will ionize the heck out of things like biochemical material.

Alpha particles have little penetrating power, so the danger from them appears if we inhale or ingest something that has a radioisotope in it that decays by alpha emission. Once inside us, a radioactive substance that decays this way will emit the alpha particle, and the particle will exit the nucleus of the atom with a lot of kinetic energy. The alpha particle will break chemical bonds doing tissue damage all the way along its path of travel until it slows and stops. It's path of travel will be short, but the damage is massive.

What is arguably the best known example of a substance that decays this way is radium. Radium occurs naturally in the ground. It is radium-226 that undergoes alpha decay to become radon-222, and radon-222 undergoes alpha decay to become polonium-218.

The problem is that radon is an inert or noble gas, and as it appears out of the ground, it can collect in low places in structures (like houses) that have little to no air circulation. Occupants of the dwelling can breath in radon gas, and it can undergo that alpha decay in the lungs. This is bad because a lot of tissue damage can (will!) result. What's worse, polonium-218, the daughter product of radon, is also radioactive, and is also an alpha emitter. More tissue damage is in store. Further, there are several more steps in the decay chain that will occur before a stable isotope of lead-206. Radon poisoning is an underrated cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Links can be found below for more information.

Answer 2

Beta particles are high energy electrons and can ionize our bodies when they come into contact with us... Hence, they are dangerous.... The ionization can destroy cells in you body. Or in worst case, alter them to form cancer.

Answer 3

The alpha particle, which is actually a helium-4 nucleus, is a "heavy hitter" in the field of particulate radiation. This massive particle will ionize the heck out of everything in its way when it's on the move. It doesn't have a lot of power to penetrate because it can't really penetrate through even air very well. This is due to it's mass. The alpha particle will undergo a lot of scattering events as it slams into other atoms and molecules as it moves. These events will strip energy from the alpha particles quickly and stop them. But the many scattering events will smash chemical bonds by ionizing atoms in biochemical (living) material. This does a lot of damage to the living cells. The limited penetrating power of the alpha particle is offset by its power to cause a lot of cellular damage to living tissue. The real danger is to a person who inhales or ingests a substance that is radioactive and decays by alpha emission. There are a number of alpha emitters, and fortunately for us, they're pretty much all confined to nuclear facilities. There is one that is not, however, and that's radon. Radon appears naturally out of the ground as a result of the alpha decay of radium. Radon (Rn) is a heavy inert gas, and it will accumulate in low places where there is no ventilation. Like in houses or other structures. If we breathe in radon and it undergoes alpha decay in our lungs, a lot of local biological damage will occur. And the daughter of Rn-222 is also a radioactive alpha emitter. You'll be the target of more biological damage as polonium-218, that radioactive daughter, decays. There's more bad news. There are several more decay events that will occur before the appearance of lead-206, a stable isotope. Use the links below to gather more information, including the complete decay chain.

Answer 4

Beta radiation is NOT harmless in all cases. For the most part, it is because alpha and beta particles are larger, and are thus more likely to interact with air before they reach your body. Also, in the case of alpha particles, they are actually two protons and two neutrons bonded together, which is not overly stable in a non-atomic form, so it might decay into another form before it can hit your body. Either way, don't go eating alpha or beta particles any time soon...

Answer 5

It is only dangerous if you are close to or ingest the source. This is because that while the alpha particles (helium nuclei) do not travel very far, they are big and heavy and do a lot of damage as they are emitted.

Answer 6

If you swallow alpha particle they cause damage because they ionise DNA.It also causes Cancer