Question

How is the product isotope different from the reactant isotope in alpha decay?

Answer 1

Answer: The product isotope will be two atomic numbers lower than the reactant, and 4 mass numbers lesser.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

When a nucleus drops an alpha particle, it produces two protons and two neutrons. So the atomic number goes down by two, and the mass number goes down by 4. Electrons would also be misplaced from the shells, but that is never exposed on nuclear reactions. The product isotope will be two atomic numbers lower than the reactant, and 4 mass numbers lesser.