Question

An isotope undergoes radioactive decay. The new isotope that forms has an atomic number that is 2 less than the original isotope’s.

Which kind of decay has occurred, and how do you know?
1)alpha decay because alpha particles have a large mass
2)beta decay because beta particles can have negative charge
3)alpha decay because alpha particles have two protons and two neutrons
4)gamma decay because gamma rays are photons

Answer 1

3)alpha decay because alpha particles have two protons and two neutrons

Step-by-step explanation:

When a radioactive isotope undergoes a decay, a daughter nucleus or nuclei is/are formed. The mass number and atomic number of the daughter nucleus gives us an idea of the nature of radioactive decay that the parent nucleus underwent.

If the daughter mass number of the daughter nucleus is four units less than that of the parent nucleus and the atomic number of the daughter nucleus is two units less than that of the parent, then such a decay is an alpha decay.

An alpha particle has two protons and two neutrons thus it has a mass number of 4 and an atomic number of two.