When the nucleus of an atom emits an alpha particle, the atom's atomic number
A)decreases.
B)remains unchanged.
C)increases.

Name: When the nucleus of an atom emits an alpha particle, the atom's atomic number A)decreases. B)remains unchanged. C)increases.
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Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the nucleus emits an alpha particle, it loses two protons and two neutrons. This means that the atomic number (the number of protons in the nucleus) decreases by 2, resulting in a new element with a lower atomic number.

When the Nucleus of an Atom Emits an Alpha Particle