Understanding Alpha Decay
Alpha decay involves the emission of an alpha particle, which is essentially a helium nucleus (²⁴He₂). This means the daughter nucleus will:
* Lose 4 atomic mass units: The alpha particle has a mass number of 4.
* Lose 2 protons: The alpha particle has 2 protons.
Calculating the Daughter Nucleus
1. Start with the parent nucleus: ²²⁶Ra₈₈
2. Subtract the alpha particle: ²²⁶Ra₈₈ - ⁴He₂
3. Calculate the resulting daughter nucleus: ²²²Rn₈₆
The Answer:
The daughter nucleus formed from the alpha decay of ²²⁶Ra₈₈ is ²²²Rn₈₆, which is Radon-222.
