Beta Phase: Square45 is currently in beta testing. Expect some features or content to be incomplete or missing.
45

Alpha Decay

The decay of a nucleus emitting an alpha particle (²≹²≹), resulting in a change in the atomic number and mass number.
📜

The statement of the theorem

Consider a parent nucleus XX with mass number AXA_X and atomic number ZXZ_X. Alpha decay is represented by the reaction: ZXAXXZX2AX4Y+24α {}_{Z_X}^{A_X}X \rightarrow {}_{Z_X-2}^{A_X-4}Y + {}_{2}^{4}\alpha where YY is the daughter nucleus, and the conservation laws dictate that the total mass number and atomic number must be conserved: AX=(AX4)+4andZX=(ZX2)+2 A_X = (A_X-4) + 4 \quad \text{and} \newline Z_X = (Z_X-2) + 2
Source: Wikipedia