7 Radioactivity and Particles Flashcards
Mass number
Number of protons + neutrons
Atomic Number
Number of protons
Proton Relative Charge
+1
Proton relative mass
1
Neutron relative charge
0
Neutron relative mass
1
Electron relative charge
-1
Electron relative mass
1/2000
Atom
Same number of protons and electrons
Ion
Different number of protons or electrons
Positive or negative
Isotopes of an element
Same number of protons
Different number of neutrons
Ionising Radiation
Produced when an unstable nucleus decays
It is a spontaneous and random process
Alpha Particle
2 protons, 2 neutons = helium nucleus
Alpha decay
2 protons + 2 neutrons (an alpha particle) are ejected from the parent nucleus.
Leaves behind a smaller daughter nucleus + energy
Beta Particle
Electron
Beta Decay
A neutron decays to a proton (remains in the nucleus) and an electron (which is ejected at high speed as a beta particle)
Gamma
Following alpha or beta decay, the daughter nucleus is left in an excited state. So it gets rid of this excess energy by emitting a gamma ray.
Alpha ionising power
High
Beta ionising power
Medium
Gamma ionising power
Low