Question #e84a8

1 Answer
Nov 2, 2016

Does anyone really know?

Explanation:

This is a good question, although it is physics rather than chemistry. I'm not sure if anyone really knows the answer but losing an alpha particle must be optimal in terms of stabilising the nucleus while at the same time producing a particle that's not too big to be "kicked out" of the nucleus, bearing in mind that energy is needed to expel the alpha particle.