Atomic and Nuclear Structures

Question 1

Identify the Three Major Components of an Atom

Answer 1

Protons Neutrons and Electron

Number of protons determine the identity of the specific element

Question 2

List the Charge and relative mass for the major components of the Atom

Answer 2

Protons +1 charge and Mass 1 AMU
Neutrons No Charge and Mass of 1 AMU
Electron have a relative negative charge of -1 and a mass of 0.00055 amu or 1/1836 AMU.

Question 3

Atomic Mass Unit

Answer 3

Unit established to define the masses for the parts of the atom because of their relatively small size.

Mass exactly equal to 1/12th the mass of one Carbon -12 atom

Question 4

Location of the three major components of an Atom

Answer 4

Protons and Neutrons: located in Nucleus and are held together by a strong attractive force called the nuclear force.
Also called Nucleons

Electrons: orbit around the nucleus (shell or cloud)

Neutral charged atom there will be equal number of protons and electrons

Question 5

Forces that hold electrons in its orbit

Answer 5

Balance of the attractive force between the electron and the nucleus and the centrifugal force due to circular motion

Question 6

Excitation

Answer 6

Process of adding energy to the nucleus or electron cloud, causes it to transition from a ground state to an excited state

Question 7

Ionization

Answer 7

Process of adding or removing an electron from a stable atom

Question 8

Symbols associated with Atomic notation

Answer 8

Z: Atomic Number (number of protons)
X: Chemical Symbol ( Identify’s element)
A: Atomic Mass Number equals the total number of protons and neutrons

Question 9

Nuclide

Answer 9

Atom having a specific number of protons and neutrons

May be stable or radioactive

Question 10

Radionuclides

Answer 10

Radioactive nuclide

Question 11

Isotopes

Answer 11

Elements having the same number of protons (Z) but different number of neutrons (N)

Question 12

Examples of isotopes

Answer 12

H-1 H-3 , C-12 C-13

Question 13

Contamination

Answer 13

Radioactive substance dispersed in or on materials or places where it is undesirable

Question 14

Radiation

Particles and Electromagnetic

Answer 14

Energy propagating in the form of particles or electromagnetic waves

Particles: Alpha/ Beta / Neutrons
Electromagnetic: Photons- gamma/ X-ray
Others: visible light, radio waves

Question 15

Ionizing Radiation

Answer 15

Any radiation capable of producing ions, either directly or indirectly as it passes through matter

Question 16

Energy Units
eV

Answer 16

Electron Volt or eV

Defined as amount of energy gained by an electron in accelerating through a potential difference of 1 Volt

KeV- 1,000 eV
MeV- 1,000,000 eV

Question 17

Direct Ionizing Radiation

Answer 17

Charged Particle radiations that produce ionizations. Interact directly with orbital electrons through electrostatic (Coulombic) forces

Question 18

Indirect Ionizing Radiation

Answer 18

Electromagnetic and Neutron radiation that produce fast moving charged particles through collision with matter. These charged particles go on to create additional ionizations through coulombic interactions

Question 19

Three Primary electric field interactions

Answer 19

Ionization
Excitation
Bremsstrahlung

Question 20

Ionization

Answer 20

Produces ion pairs: one or more free electrons along with a positively charged atom. Both charged atom and free electron can react with other atoms in their vicinity to produce chemical changes

Question 21

Excitation

Answer 21

Where nucleus or electron shell has energy input which makes a nucleon or electron above its ground state. Occurs when radiation deposits energy, but not sufficient to produce ion pairs

Question 22

Bremsstrahlung

Answer 22

X-ray emitted from a charged particle due to radial acceleration

Negative acceleration or deceleration