Question

2 how does an alpha particle emission change an atom? when modeling radioactive decay you must ensure that an unstable ___ is able to become a stable

Explanation:

Alpha - particle emission is a type of radioactive decay. An alpha particle consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. When an atom emits an alpha - particle, its atomic number decreases by 2 and its mass number decreases by 4. For an unstable atom to become stable through alpha - decay, the resulting atom must have a more stable ratio of protons to neutrons.

Answer:

An alpha - particle emission changes an atom by decreasing its atomic number by 2 and its mass number by 4. An unstable atom can become stable through alpha - decay when the resulting atom has a more stable proton - neutron ratio.