How is an alpha particle different from an atom of helium?
A) It's not different at all.
B) It has a different number of protons.
C) It has a different number of neutrons.
D) It has a different number of electrons.
E) It has both a different number of electrons and a different number of protons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An alpha particle is essentially a helium nucleus, which means it has 2 protons and 2 neutrons like a helium atom but lacks electrons. A neutral helium atom has 2 electrons, so the difference is in the number of electrons.

How Is an Alpha Particle Different from an Atom of Helium