An Alpha particle has a 2+ charge? What the hell?

[EECStoMed]

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An Alpha particle has a 2+ charge? What the hell?

According to wiki:

Wouldn't that make Th 2-. Can someone please explain? Charges need to be conserved on BOTH sides!

 

[crunchymilk]

it's wikipedia man....

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

it's wikipedia man....

Actually, this is true

According to wiki:

The second form is preferred because the first form appears electrically unbalanced. Fundamentally, the recoiling nucleus is very quickly stripped of two electrons to neutralize the ionized helium cation.)

the alpha particle IS at +2

 

[jheredia]

yup

an alpha particle is a He nucleus --> 2 neutrons + 2 protons which means it has a +2 charge

as samurai said the original nucleus gets stripped of 2 electrons to balance it out