Question

How do the chemical properties of new element compare with the original element, after the emission of alpha particle?

Answer 1

When a nucleus emits an alpha particle, its atomic number decreases by 2 and its mass number decreases by 4.

\[ {}_{Z}\mathrm{X}^{A} \longrightarrow {}_{Z - 2}\mathrm{X}_{1}^{A - 4} + {}_{2}\mathrm{He}^{4} \]

Since the chemical properties of an element depend on its atomic number (Z), the daughter nuclide is a different element. It occupies a position two places behind the parent element in the periodic table and therefore shows different chemical properties from the original element.