Which process involves the emission of an alpha particle from a nucleus?

Which process involves the emission of an alpha particle from a nucleus?

• A. Beta decay
• B. Alpha decay
• C. Gamma decay
• D. Nuclear fission

Answer: (B)

Alpha decay is the process in which a heavy nucleus ejects an alpha particle, a helium-4 nucleus made of two protons and two neutrons. This emission reduces the atomic number by 2 and the mass number by 4, moving the nucleus toward a more stable configuration. The emitted alpha particle is a relatively large, highly charged piece that has limited range in matter. In contrast, gamma decay releases energy as electromagnetic radiation without changing the nucleus’s composition, beta decay alters the proton-neutron balance with emission of an electron or positron (and a neutrino), and nuclear fission splits a heavy nucleus into smaller nuclei, often with additional neutrons released. So the process described is alpha decay.

Alpha decay is the process in which a heavy nucleus ejects an alpha particle, a helium-4 nucleus made of two protons and two neutrons. This emission reduces the atomic number by 2 and the mass number by 4, moving the nucleus toward a more stable configuration. The emitted alpha particle is a relatively large, highly charged piece that has limited range in matter. In contrast, gamma decay releases energy as electromagnetic radiation without changing the nucleus’s composition, beta decay alters the proton-neutron balance with emission of an electron or positron (and a neutrino), and nuclear fission splits a heavy nucleus into smaller nuclei, often with additional neutrons released. So the process described is alpha decay.