Three of the most common types of decay are alpha decay (𝛼-decay), beta decay (𝛽-decay), and gamma decay (𝛾 ... According to quantum theory, it is impossible to predict when a particular atom will ...

^{4}\textrm{He}\) When a radioactive atom emits an alpha particle the mass number decreases by four and the atomic number drops by two. Here is the equation for the alpha decay of radon-219 into ...

Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay where ... or atomic weight (the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom) ...

After emitting an alpha or beta particle ... the nucleus of an unstable atom; beta radiation is stopped by several metres of air or a thin sheet of aluminium; beta decay:\(_{X}^{ ...