Particles Flashcards
(174 cards)
Size of nucleus
1x10^-14m
Size of atom
1x10^-10m
How many times bigger is the atom than the nucleus
1000
Why is most of the atom empty space
Electrons orbit at relatively large distances compared to nucleus
Proton number
Z
Number of protons in a nucleus
Atomic number
Defines what element it is
Why is the electron number important
Tells you a lot about an atoms chemical behaviour and properties
Nucleon number
A
Number of nucleons
Mass number
Gives a good approximation of an atoms mass since electrons have negligible mass
Why are neutrons needed
Hold protons together
Why are protons useful
Identify element
Specific charge meaning
Ratio of a particles charge to mass in Coulombs per kilogram (Ckg^-1)
Formula for specific charge of a fundamental particle
Specific charge=Charge/Mass
Q=C/M
Why does the electron have the largest specific charge
Smallest mass by about 1840x
Why does the neutron have no specific charge
No charge
So not affected by fields and don’t deflect
Specific charge of nucleus
Q.nucleus/M.nucleus
(protons x 1.6x10^-19) / (nucleons x 1.67x10^-19)
Electrons ignored
Specific charge of an ion
Q.ion/M.ion
(nucleons x 1.67x10^-27) + (electrons x 9.11x10^-31)
What are isotopes
Same element, same proton and electron numbers
Different number of neutrons
What is isotopic data
The relative amounts of different isotopes of an element present in a substance
Name a use of one of hydrogens isotopes
Tritium
Used to illuminate fire exit signs without the need of electricity
Give an example of how isotopic data can be used
All living things contain carbon
% of radioactive carbon 14 pretty much the same for all living things’
Amount decreases after death as it decays to stable elements
Can calculate approximate ages of archaeological finds made of dead organic matter
By using the isotopic data to find the % of carbon left
Where does alpha decay occur
Large unstable nuclei
What is ejected in alpha decay
2 protons 2 neutrons
AKA a helium nucleus
What happens to the element as alpha decay occurs
Mass number decreases by 4
Atomic number decreases by 2
When does gamma decay happen
Nucleus has too much vibrational energy
Emitting gamma radiation
When does beta minus decay occur
Nucleus has too many neutrons for protons
Undergo Beta minus decay to improve its p:n