Alpha Particle Captures Electrons, Then What?

An alpha particle captures an electron. What does it change to? What happens when it captures two electrons?
- aditya balaram (age 15)
bangalore india

An alpha particle is a stable bound state of two protons and two neutrons, the same thing as a doubly ionized helium atom.   If it it captures one electron it becomes a singly ionized helium atom.  If it should capture yet another electron it would become a common ordinary neutral helium atom. 

Lee H

(published on 11/11/2007)