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Alpha decay
In alpha decay an atomic nucleus ejects an alpha particle and transforms into a nucleus with mass number[?] 4 less and atomic number 2 less. For example
- 23892U → 23490Th + 42He
More usually written as
- 238U → 234Th + α
Note that an alpha particle is a helium nucleus, and that both mass number and atomic number are conserved. Essentially alpha decay can be thought of as nuclear fission where the parent nucleus splits into two daughter nuclei.
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