How does alpha radiation change the nucleus?

Answer 1

Nucleus minus two protons and minus two neutrons (alpha particles are 4He nucleii)

Answer 2

The only one we can be definite about is alpha: in alpha radiation, the nucleus emits a helium nucleus, which lowers the proton and neutron counts by 2 each.

Beta is complicated, because there are several mechanisms for emitting a beta ray. In the simplest, one of the neutrons becomes a proton, so the neutron count drops by one and the proton count increases by one. However, sometimes the term is used for positron radiation (beta-plus), which is the exact opposite. There are also "double beta" decays, which results in the emission of two electrons and two neutrons become two protons.

Emission of a gamma ray doesn't actually change the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Gamma rays may be emitted along with particle (alpha or beta) rays, or they may be a more subtle transition which leaves the proton and neutron count unchanged.

Answer 3

All of them have the same effects: ionization of atoms which can break up DNA or cause mutations in DNA. Often this causes cell death. Sometimes the cells become cancerous. Many other things can happen.

Answer 4

Alpha particle emission from a nucleus reduces the number of protons by two and reduces the number of neutrons by two also. Accordingly, the mass number is reduced by four and the atomic number is reduced by two.

Answer 5

Alpha radiation occurs when an unstable nucleus emits a helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons). This reduces the atomic number of the nucleus by 2 and the mass number by 4, making it transform into a different element.

Answer 6

The nucleus is negative 2 neutrons and 2 protons, therefore the element changes (based on how many neutrons are in the nucleus)