Helium nuclei with no electrons orbiting it are what kind of radiation?

Helium nuclei without any surrounding electrons are classified as alpha radiation. Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons, which are essentially identical to the nucleus of a helium atom. This type of radiation is emitted during certain types of radioactive decay, specifically alpha decay, where an unstable nucleus releases an alpha particle to achieve a more stable state.

In contrast, beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons emitted from a decaying atomic nucleus, gamma radiation consists of high-energy electromagnetic waves, and X-rays are also electromagnetic radiation but at different energy levels and sources compared to gamma rays. Therefore, the identification of helium nuclei as alpha particles is definitive because it directly aligns with their characteristics and behavior during radioactive decay processes.