Question

What do you understand by the term alpha particles as applied in radioactivity?

Answer 1

1. Alpha particles are particles that consist of two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle identical to a helium-4 nucleus.
2. They are generally produced in the process of alpha decay, but may also be produced in other ways.
3. There is only one alpha particle, and that is the helium-4 nucleus.
4. Note that only the nucleus is given out, not the electrons.
5. So, an alpha particle always has a charge of +2, due to the presence of two protons.