Question

How does alpha decay differ from beta decay?

Answer 1

Alpha decay is a nuclear change process which produces an alpha particle. Alpha particles are He atoms which have had their electrons removed giving them a +2 charge.

There are two types of beta decay. Beta positive and beta negative. These processes will cause an atom to have its atomic number increase or decrease by 1.

Both processes cause transmution - when one element turns into a different element.

Here is a video which discusses how to write and balance an equation for an alpha and beta decay processes.

Noel P.