An alpha particle is a kind of particle emitted spontaneously during the type of radioactive decay known as alpha decay. An alpha particle is identical with the nucleus of a helium atom (4 He), consisting of two protons and two neutrons. The rest mass of the alpha particle is 6.64424 × 10 -27 kilograms, or 3.7273 × 10 9 eV. Calculate the mass defect and binding energy per nucleon for an alpha particle (containing two protons and two neutrons) whose actual mass is 4.0028 amu (mass of proton = 1.00759 amu, mass of nuetron = 1.00898 amu). Alpha Decay produced alpha particles. Its mass is due to two protons and two Neutrons bonding. Alpha particle is very similar to the Helium nucleus. Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle identical to a helium-4 nucleus. Alpha particle is named after the first letter in the Greek alphabet (α). Alpha particles are pretty much like helium atoms. They are products of radioactive reactions such as alpha decay. Alpha particles are written as 4 He 2+, which implies that it has a +2 charge. You can call an alpha particle an isotope of helium ions or a doubly ionized helium nuclei. Just like every cation, it has lost two electrons which makes it a positively charged particle. Furthermore, alpha particles were the first nuclear radiation to be discovered. Later on, other particles like ...
