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Why does the emission of an alpha always result in transmutation?

User Duannx
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ANSWER and EXPLANATION

Transmutation is the process whereby an element changes into another element through radioactive decay, nuclear bombardment, or other similar processes.

When an element emits an alpha particle, it loses two of its protons. This implies that its mass and atomic number (becomes less by two) change, hence, the element also changes into another.

An example of this is the decay of Uranium to Thorium.

User Samuel Grogan
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