Question

A radio nucleus ${}_Z{X}^A$ emits an alpha particle and becomes Y. Mention the atomic number and mass number of Y. What do you call the conversion of one element into another element?

Answer 1

The atomic number and mass number of alpha particle is $2$ and $4$, respectively.

Also the mass number as well as atomic number must be conserved in a nuclear reaction.

Thus the nuclear reaction is ${}_Z{X}^A{\to }_{Z-2}{Y}^{A-4}{+}_{2}H{e}^4$

Hence the atomic number of $Y$ is $Z-2$.

The mass number of $Y$ is $A-4$.

In above reaction, an alpha particle gets emitted from a nucleus ${}_Z{X}_A$. Hence this reaction is particularly known as alpha decay.