Alpha particles are identical to the nucleus of which element?

Alpha particles are identical to the nucleus of which element?

• A. Hydrogen
• B. Helium
• C. Lithium
• D. Neon

Answer: (B)

An alpha particle is the nucleus of helium-4. It has two protons and two neutrons, giving a mass number of 4 and a charge of +2. That is exactly the composition of the helium nucleus, which is what an alpha particle is. The hydrogen nucleus has only one proton, lithium’s nucleus has more protons (three) and different neutron counts, and neon has even more protons (ten); none of these match the two-proton, two-neutron configuration. So the alpha particle is identical to the nucleus of helium.

An alpha particle is the nucleus of helium-4. It has two protons and two neutrons, giving a mass number of 4 and a charge of +2. That is exactly the composition of the helium nucleus, which is what an alpha particle is. The hydrogen nucleus has only one proton, lithium’s nucleus has more protons (three) and different neutron counts, and neon has even more protons (ten); none of these match the two-proton, two-neutron configuration. So the alpha particle is identical to the nucleus of helium.