| Term | Definition |
|---|
| atomic number | number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of a given element |
| electron | negatively charged particle that exists in an electron cloud formation around an atom's nucleus |
| electron cloud | region surrounding the nucleus of an atom, where electrons are most likely to be found |
| element | matter of atoms of only one kind |
| half-life | time needed for one-half the mass of a sample of a radioactive isotope to decay |
| isotope | atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons |
| mass number | the sum of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an atom |
| neutron | electrically neutral particle that has the same mass as a proton aand is found in an atom's nucleus |
| nucleus | small region of space at the center of the atom that contains protons and neutrons |
| proton | positively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom |
| radioactive decay | release of nucleur particles and energy from unstable atomic nuclei |
| transmutation | the change of one element into another through radioactive decay |
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