My chemistry book describes the radioactive decay of Polonium (Po) into Lead (Pb). The explanation says that two protons and two neutrons (an Alpha particle which is essentially a Helium nucleus) are ejected from the Polonium nucleus and the particle eventually acquires two electrons to form a plain vanilla Helium atom.
However, the book describes the electron capture as a two step sequence where the Alpha particle is ejected completely from the Polonium atom and acquires two electrons from the "surrounding atoms" (it doesn't say what elements the atoms are) which then become cations. Then the surrounding atoms acquire electrons back from the Polonium and the decay process is complete - game over.
Seems that the electron capture of the Alpha particle would be done in just one step with the particle just snatching two electrons on its way out of the Polonium atom. Furthermore, what happens if the Polonium atoms are isolated from other elements and can't acquire electrons from the surroundings? That would leave the Polonium atom as a positive ion.
However, the book describes the electron capture as a two step sequence where the Alpha particle is ejected completely from the Polonium atom and acquires two electrons from the "surrounding atoms" (it doesn't say what elements the atoms are) which then become cations. Then the surrounding atoms acquire electrons back from the Polonium and the decay process is complete - game over.
Seems that the electron capture of the Alpha particle would be done in just one step with the particle just snatching two electrons on its way out of the Polonium atom. Furthermore, what happens if the Polonium atoms are isolated from other elements and can't acquire electrons from the surroundings? That would leave the Polonium atom as a positive ion.