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General Chemistry Principles, Patterns, and Applications, 2011

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Alpha Decay<br />

Many nuclei with mass numbers greater than 200 undergo alpha (α) decay, which results in the emission<br />

of a helium-4 nucleus as an alpha (α) particl general reaction is as follows:<br />

Equation 20.1<br />

e, a24. The<br />

XZAparent ® X'Z - 2A - 4daughter +a24alphaparticle<br />

The daughter nuclide contains two fewer protons <strong>and</strong> two fewer neutrons than the parent. Thus α-particle<br />

emission produces a daughter nucleus with a mass number A − 4 <strong>and</strong> a nuclear charge Z − 2 compared to<br />

the parent nucleus. Radium-226, for example, undergoes alpha decay to form radon-222:<br />

Equation 20.2<br />

Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/books<br />

Saylor.org<br />

1841

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