The radioactive isotope 226Ra decays to 222Rn. What type of decay is this?

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Multiple Choice

The radioactive isotope 226Ra decays to 222Rn. What type of decay is this?

Explanation:
Heavy nuclei often shed an alpha particle, which is a helium-4 nucleus. In alpha decay the mass number drops by 4 and the atomic number drops by 2. Here 226Ra loses 4 mass units and 2 protons, becoming 222Rn (mass 226−4 = 222; Z goes from 88 to 86). That exact change matches alpha decay. Beta decay would change the charge but not the mass, gamma decay would leave both numbers unchanged, and neutron emission would reduce the mass without changing the charge. So this is alpha decay.

Heavy nuclei often shed an alpha particle, which is a helium-4 nucleus. In alpha decay the mass number drops by 4 and the atomic number drops by 2. Here 226Ra loses 4 mass units and 2 protons, becoming 222Rn (mass 226−4 = 222; Z goes from 88 to 86). That exact change matches alpha decay. Beta decay would change the charge but not the mass, gamma decay would leave both numbers unchanged, and neutron emission would reduce the mass without changing the charge. So this is alpha decay.

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