P7 Flashcards
What is nuclear radiation? And why is it unstable?
Nuclear radiation is when the nucleus of an atom emits radiation because it’s unstable.
Its unstable because it has:
Too many protons or too many neutrons or it is too large
What are the 3 types of ionising radiation?
-Alpha radiation (a)
-Beta radiation (B)
-Gamma radiation (y)
What is a radioactive substance?
A radioactive substance is when the nucleus of an atom emits radiation because it is unstable.
What is a alpha particle?
Alpha particles are made of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. This means that they have a charge of +2, and a mass of 4, they’re the same as a helium nucleus. When an atom emits alpha decay the nucleus loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
What is a Beta decay?
Beta particles is an electron created and emitted by a nucleus which has too many neutrons compared to protons. A neutrons turns into a proton, emitting a beta particle at high speeds instantly from the nucleus. Mass is effectively zero and charge -1.
So that means that the atomic mass doesn’t change because atomic mass is the number of protons and neutrons and the number of protons and neutrons doesn’t change as one neutron is just changing into a proton. The atomic number changes because there is one more proton than neutron so atomic proton number goes up
What is Atomic number
Is the number of protons in a atom
What is atomic mass?
It is how much protons and neutrons are in a atom
How are beta particles made?
When a neutron turns into a proton there is energy released and that energy released it in the form of a negative beta particle that gets shot out of the nucleus
What is the nature ,symbol, electronic charge, stopped by, Ionising ‘power’ of a apha particle?
Symbol : a , nature: particle, electronic charge : +2, stopped by: mm air and paper, ionising ‘power’, what is it : a Helium nucleus
