Nuclear Chem Flashcards
Radioactivity
the spontaneous emission of rays or particles from unstable nuclei
Nuclear Radiation
the rays and particles emitted from a radioactive source
Radioisotope
an isotope that has an unstable nucleus
Alpha Particle
a particle made up of two protons and two neutrons that emit during a nuclear rxn
Beta Particle
a fast-moving electron emitted during a nuclear rxn
Gamma Ray
a high-energy photon emitted by a radioisotope
Nuclear Force
an attractive force that acts among all nuclear particles
Band of Stability
on a graph of neutrons vs, protons, the region where stable nuclei appear
Positron
a particle with the mass of an electron and a positive charge
Half-Life
the time needed for half of the nuclei in a radioisotope to decay
Transmutation
the change of an atom of one element into an atom of another element
Transuranium Element
any element with a number above 92
Fission
the splitting of a nucleus into smaller pieces
Neutron Moderation
a process that slows down neutrons
Neutron Absorption
a process that decreases the number of slow moving neutrons
