Why does the emission of an alpha particle always result in transmutation?
• The atom is converted to helium.
• The protons in the large atom change to neutrons.
• Energy is released from the nucleus of the atom.
• The number of protons in the atom changes.
The correct answer is:
• The atom is converted to helium.
When an alpha particle is emitted from an atom, it consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. This means that the atom loses 2 protons from its nucleus. Since the number of protons determines the identity of an element, when the number of protons changes, the element is transmuted into a different element. In the case of alpha decay, the original atom is transformed into a different atom, usually helium.