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Yes and no, alpha particles are a form or radiation (a helium nucleus), they are emitted from an unstable radioactive element which decays (and turns into some lighter element) by emitting the alpha particle. This form of decay is called alpha decay.

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Does alpha decay produce helium atoms?

No, alpha decay does not directly produce helium atoms. Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons. This alpha particle is the same as a helium-4 nucleus, but it is not considered a helium atom until it captures electrons and becomes electrically neutral.


How much force can an alpha particle exert?

This depends on the velocity, or temperature, of the alpha particle. The faster the particle goes, the higher its temperature, and the more energetic it is. When we are dealing with atoms and subatomic particles, temperature and velocity are pretty much measurements of the same thing. Most alpha particles emitted from large radioactive atoms have energies in the range of 3 to 7 MeV (million electron volts). Alpha particles from the decay of the heavier, man-made atoms can be more energetic yet. 5 MeV would mean that the particle is going about 15,000 km/s, or about 5% of the speed of light. At that speed, the alpha particle can be absorbed by a piece of thin paper. They are not horribly dangerous, if the particles are outside you. But if they are emitted from something inside you, they can be very destructive because they can alter living cells. It should be noted that an alpha particle is essentially the same thing as a Helium-4 nucleus. The difference is that the alpha particle came from nuclear decay, and is moving.


Why an element that loses an alpha particle becomes a new element?

In alpha decay an atom emits an alpha particle, which is a helium nucleus. The alpha particle, consists of two protons and two neutrons. So alpha decay reduces the atomic number by two and the mass number by four. For example, when radium 226 (atomic number 88) decays by alpha emission to radon 222 (atomic number 86).


What is difference between beta particle and an electron?

An electron is the basic carrier of the negative electrostatic charge. It has an anti-matter equivalent (an anti-particle) called the positron. Either an electron or positron can be a beta particle. The reason is that beta decay releases a beta particle, and the type of particle will depend on the type of decay. In beta minus decay, the change in an atomic nucleus will release an electron, and in beta plus decay, the nuclear change will release a positron. Use the link below to learn more about beta decay.


Alpha decay results in the formation of a new element with the atomic number?

That's a very vague question, but if it's the theory you're after;If a nucleus is heavy (>82 protons, generally at A2 level) it will emit an alpha particle. For example,238U --> 234Th + 4α + 0νe_92______76___ 2___0In this emission, Uranium-238 is the parent nucleus. It emits an alpha particle, which has 2 protons and 2 neutrons. Thallium-234 is the daughter nucleus. The other thing is a neutrino. It is a lepton, and is there to balance the lepton number.Apologies for the big black line, but it's the only way I could get wikians to play nicely.

Related Questions

Does alpha decay produce helium atoms?

No, alpha decay does not directly produce helium atoms. Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons. This alpha particle is the same as a helium-4 nucleus, but it is not considered a helium atom until it captures electrons and becomes electrically neutral.


How much force can an alpha particle exert?

This depends on the velocity, or temperature, of the alpha particle. The faster the particle goes, the higher its temperature, and the more energetic it is. When we are dealing with atoms and subatomic particles, temperature and velocity are pretty much measurements of the same thing. Most alpha particles emitted from large radioactive atoms have energies in the range of 3 to 7 MeV (million electron volts). Alpha particles from the decay of the heavier, man-made atoms can be more energetic yet. 5 MeV would mean that the particle is going about 15,000 km/s, or about 5% of the speed of light. At that speed, the alpha particle can be absorbed by a piece of thin paper. They are not horribly dangerous, if the particles are outside you. But if they are emitted from something inside you, they can be very destructive because they can alter living cells. It should be noted that an alpha particle is essentially the same thing as a Helium-4 nucleus. The difference is that the alpha particle came from nuclear decay, and is moving.


Why an element that loses an alpha particle becomes a new element?

In alpha decay an atom emits an alpha particle, which is a helium nucleus. The alpha particle, consists of two protons and two neutrons. So alpha decay reduces the atomic number by two and the mass number by four. For example, when radium 226 (atomic number 88) decays by alpha emission to radon 222 (atomic number 86).


What is difference between beta particle and an electron?

An electron is the basic carrier of the negative electrostatic charge. It has an anti-matter equivalent (an anti-particle) called the positron. Either an electron or positron can be a beta particle. The reason is that beta decay releases a beta particle, and the type of particle will depend on the type of decay. In beta minus decay, the change in an atomic nucleus will release an electron, and in beta plus decay, the nuclear change will release a positron. Use the link below to learn more about beta decay.


What is A particle in the nucleus of an atom it has a positive electrical and is 2000 times the of the electron?

proton there is no such thing as an electrical charged nut there is such a thing as a charged particle, that is also known as neutron


What is particle in the nucleus of an atom it has a positive electrical charge and is 2000 times the mass of the electron?

proton there is no such thing as an electrical charged nut there is such a thing as a charged particle, that is also known as neutron


What is the difference of alpha beta and gamma radiation?

These are types of both particulate and electromagnetic radiation, and alpha and beta are the former while gamma is the latter. Let's look at each one in brief. An alpha particle is a pair of protons and a pair of neutrons all hooked together. It's a helium-4 nucleus, and it's particulate radiation. A gamma ray is electromagnetic radiation (an electromagnetic ray) of very high frequency and energy (which also means very short wavelength). A beta particle is one of two types of particles, either a beta plus particle or a beta minus particle. The beta minus particle is an electron, and a beta plus particle is a positron, or anti-electron (antimatter). Beta radiation is particulate radiation. What is key to understanding these guys is how they are formed. Use the links below to the three questions that specifically speak to the characteristics of each of these types of radiation. These questions are already posted and answered here; no need for repetition.


Alpha decay results in the formation of a new element with the atomic number?

That's a very vague question, but if it's the theory you're after;If a nucleus is heavy (>82 protons, generally at A2 level) it will emit an alpha particle. For example,238U --> 234Th + 4α + 0νe_92______76___ 2___0In this emission, Uranium-238 is the parent nucleus. It emits an alpha particle, which has 2 protons and 2 neutrons. Thallium-234 is the daughter nucleus. The other thing is a neutrino. It is a lepton, and is there to balance the lepton number.Apologies for the big black line, but it's the only way I could get wikians to play nicely.


Who discovered the nucleon?

The nucleon was not "discovered" per se. That's because the term nucleon, which is a derived word coming from nucleus, can be fairly applied to either of the two particles that make up the nucleus of an atom. You already know these particles are the proton and neutron. We don't call either particle a nucleon when that particle is outside the nucleus, but only when they're inside atomic nuclei. Nucleon is actually an umbrella term that isn't "one specific particle or thing" as we know it.


Does a neutron atom have as many neutrons as electrons?

There is no such thing as a neutron atom. A neuton is a particle that exists within the nucleus of an atom.


What would happen to the overall charge if a material with a positive charge lost most of its protons and had more electrons than protons?

Its charge would be negative, since there would be more electrons than protons. However, there is no chemical process that can cause a sudden loss of a bunch of protons from the nucleus of an atom. Alpha decay can cause an atomic nucleus to expel an alpha particle, which consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons, and there is such a thing as proton decay, but that is extremely uncommon.


Does the beta particle increase or decrase mass?

The beta particle decreases mass because it is an electron emitted from a nucleus during beta decay. The process of emitting a beta particle can result in the conversion of a neutron into a proton, leading to a decrease in the mass number of the nucleus.