Chemistry Nuclear Radiation Unit
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20 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 alpha particle | a positively charged particle that is the nucleus of the helium atom |
| atomic mass | total mass of the protons and neutrons in an atom, measured in atomic mass units |
| atomic nucleus | the center of an atom consisting of protons and neutrons |
| atomic number | the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom |
| beta particle | a high-speed electron or positron emitted in the decay of a radioactive isotope |
| carbon-14 dating | Process of estimating age of once living material by measuring the amount of radioactive isotope of carbon present in material. |
| electron | an elementary particle with negative charge |
| gamma ray | high-energy radiation that has no electrical charge and no mass, is not deflected by electric or magnetic fields, usually accompanies alpha and beta radiation, and accounts for most of the energy lost during radioactive decay |
| half-life | the time required for one half of the atoms of a radioisotope to emit radiation and decay products |
| isotopes | atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons |
| neutrons | no charge |
| mass number | the sum of the number of neutrons and protons in an atomic nucleus |
| nuclear energy | the energy released by a fission or fusion reaction; the binding energy of the atomic nucleus |
| nuclear fission | a nuclear reaction in which a massive nucleus splits into smaller nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy |
| nuclear fusion | a nuclear reaction in which nuclei combine to form more massive nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy |
| nucleon | any particle present in the nucleus of an atom, that is, a proton or neutron. |
| proton | positively charged particle |
| radioactive decay | the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation |
| rem | quantity of ionizing radiation |
| transmutation | the conversion of an atom of one element to an atom of another element |
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