Question

what is alpha radiation?
○ alpha radiation occurs during the conversion of a proton in the nucleus to a neutron.
○ alpha radiation occurs when the nucleus emits an electron.
○ alpha radiation occurs when the nucleus emits a particle that contains 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
○ alpha radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is essentially a high energy photon.
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part b
what is the symbol for an alpha particle?
express your answer as a nuclide.
aσφ
a chemical reaction does not occur for this question.
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Explanation:

Part A

• Option 1: Proton to neutron conversion is positron emission (beta⁺), not alpha.
• Option 2: Nucleus emitting an electron is beta⁻ decay, not alpha.
• Option 3: Alpha radiation involves emitting a particle with 2 protons and 2 neutrons (an alpha particle, same as a helium - 4 nucleus), which matches the definition of alpha radiation.
• Option 4: High - energy photon is gamma radiation, not alpha.

Step 1: Recall the composition of an alpha particle

An alpha particle has 2 protons and 2 neutrons. The atomic number (number of protons) \(Z = 2\) and the mass number (sum of protons and neutrons) \(A=2 + 2=4\).

Step 2: Write the nuclide symbol

The nuclide symbol for an alpha particle (which is equivalent to a helium - 4 nucleus) is \(\ce{_2^4He}\) (or sometimes written as \(\alpha\) but in nuclide form, it is \(\ce{_2^4He}\)).

Answer:

C. Alpha radiation occurs when the nucleus emits a particle that contains 2 protons and 2 neutrons.

Part B