Q12E - Chemistry (OpenStax)

Question

Question:  Which of the various particles (\(\alpha \)  particles, \(\beta \) particles, and so on) that may be produced in a nuclear reaction are actually nuclei?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

 Alpha particle.

Step 1: \(\alpha \) -particles

The nuclide symbol of \({\bf{\alpha }}\) -particle is \({_{\bf{2}}^{\bf{4}}}{\bf{H}}{{\bf{e}}^{\bf{ + }}}\) . It is a doubly ionized helium nuclide.

Step 2: Explanation

Nuclear reaction is induced by bombarding nucleus with an energetic particle. The bombarding particle may be an alpha particle, beta particle, a gamma-ray photon or a positron. In any case, the bombarding particle must have enough energy to approach the positively charged nucleus to within range of the strong nuclear force.

The nuclide symbol of \({\bf{\alpha }}\) -particle is \({_{\bf{2}}^{\bf{4}}}{\bf{H}}{{\bf{e}}^{\bf{ + }}}\) . It is a doubly ionized helium nuclide.

While beta particles and positron are basically electrons and gamma ray is electromagnetic wave which has wave-particle duality.