What describes alpha particles?

Alpha particles are indeed described as helium nuclei, consisting of two protons and two neutrons. This characteristic is fundamental to understanding their structure and behavior during radioactive decay. When a nucleus emits an alpha particle, it undergoes a transformation where it loses two protons and two neutrons, thus resulting in a new element with a lower atomic number.

This configuration also helps explain why alpha particles have a relatively large mass compared to other forms of radiation, such as beta particles or gamma rays, which corroborates why they are not the lightest form of radiation. Alpha particles carry a positive charge due to the presence of two protons, distinguishing them from negatively charged electrons. Additionally, they do not consist of photons, which are packets of electromagnetic radiation, thereby clarifying their nature as composite particles rather than electromagnetic entities. Understanding alpha particles in this context is essential for studying nuclear chemistry and the mechanisms of radioactive decay.