Radioactive Isotopes Flashcards
What is at the top left of the nuclear notation of an element?
The mass number
What is at the bottom left of the nuclear notation of an element?
The atomic number
What is in the middle of the nuclear notation of an element?
The element’s symbol
How do you find the mass number?
The mass number is the sum of the protons and neutrons of an element?
What are Isotopes?
Isotopes are atoms with the same atomic number but
different mass numbers
What are the two classifications of Isotopes?
Stable isotopes and unstable isotopes
What are stable isotopes?
Stable isotopes are isotopes that do not have distinguishing characteristics other than their masses and are obtained from natural resources
What are radioactive isotopes?
Radioactive isotopes are isotopes that continuously and spontaneously decay in other lower atomic weight isotopes.
What is Radioactivity?
Radioactivity is the process whereby unstable atomic nuclei release energetic subatomic particles
What are the two ways in which radioactive isotopes occur?
They occur naturally and artificially
What are the properties of radioactive isotopes?
- Emits radiation
- Half life
- Penetration properties
- Same chemical properties
- Different physical properties
How do radioactive isotopes become stable?
Radioactive isotopes are unstable so they undergo radioactive decay emitting radiations, till they become stable.
What are the three types of radiation?
Alpha particles(α)
Beta particles(β)
Gamma rays(y)
What is Half life?
Half life is the time period required for radionuclide to decay to one half the amount originally present
What are two characteristics of a stable isotope?
Most abundantly found in nature
Atomic number and mass are constant