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→About Alpha Decay
*Reduces the [[Atomic Number]] atomic number by 2 and the [[Atomic Mass|mass number]] by 4.
*Common in heavy [[element]]s like [[uranium]] and [[radium]].
*[[Alpha Particle|Alpha particles]] have low [[Penetration Depth|penetration depth]] but high ionizing power.
===Examples===
*[[Radium]]-226 [[Decay (Physics)|decays]] to [[radon]]-222 by emitting an [[alpha particle]].
*Smoke detectors often use [[americium]]-241, which undergoes [[alpha decay]].