The electronic configurationof helium atom is 1s2; it has twoelectrons. When helium atomloses one electron, it becomespositive ion with +1 charge;when it loses two electrons, itbecomes positive ion with +2charge on it (He2+). An alphaparticle is identical to a heliumatom that has beenstripped of its two electronsand is represented as He2+.