Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons bound together into a pa rticle identical to a helium nucleus.

Alpha decay is the most common form of nuclear decay, and occurs when an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle. Therefore it decays into an atom with a mass nu mber 4 less, and atomic number 2 less. The gold foil experiment was an experiment that eventually led to the discovery of the nucleus. It consisted of a series of tests in which positive alpha partic les were fired at a very thin sheet of gold foil. If the previously conceptualiz ed model of the atom was to be correct, the alpha particles were expected to pas s straight through with no deflections as charge was thought to be evenly spread . Although most particles did pass straight through, a few were deflected at lar ge angles. This result lead to the conclusion that the atom had a small concentrated center of positive charge of high density, which was the cause of these deflected part icles.