Definitions for alpha decay
al·pha de·cay

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. alpha decaynoun

   radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of an alpha particle

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. alpha decaynoun

   Radioactive decay by emitting an alpha particle.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Alpha decay

   Alpha decay, or α-decay, is a type of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle and thereby transforms into an atom with a mass number 4 less and atomic number 2 less. For example, uranium-238 decaying through α-particle emission to form thorium-234 can be expressed as: Because an alpha particle is the same as the nucleus of a helium-4 atom - consisting of two protons and two neutrons and thus having mass number 4 and atomic number 2 - this can also be written as: Notice how, on either side of the nuclear equation, both the mass number and the atomic number are conserved: the mass number is 238 on the right side and on the left side, and the atomic number is 92 on the right side and on the left side. The alpha particle also has a charge +2, but the charge is usually not written in nuclear equations, which describe nuclear reactions without considering the electrons. This convention is not meant to imply that the nuclei necessarily occur in neutral atoms. Alpha decay typically occurs in the heaviest nuclides. In theory it can occur only in nuclei somewhat heavier than nickel, where overall binding energy per nucleon is no longer a minimum, and the nuclides are therefore unstable toward spontaneous fission-type processes. In practice, this mode of decay has only been observed in nuclides considerably heavier than nickel, with the lightest known alpha emitter being the lightest isotopes of tellurium.

Matched Categories

1. • Decay

How to pronounce alpha decay?

1. Alex

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   Daniel

   British

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How to say alpha decay in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of alpha decay in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of alpha decay in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=alpha decay
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Alpha_Decay
3. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=alpha decay