ch 21+23 Flashcards
for final
nucleons
particles that exist in the nucleus (protons and neutrons)
isotopes have different ——-
masses
radionuclides
radioactive nuclei
alpha decay
loss of an alpha particle (He nucleus)
beta decay
loss of a beta particle
gamma decay
loss of high energy radiation
electron capture
an electron from the surrounding electron cloud is absorbed into the nucleus
positron emission
nucleus emits a positron
positron
a particle that has the same mass as an electron but an opposite charge
alpha particle
+2 charge
beta particle
-1 charge
gamma particle
neutral charge
an atom w/ more than —— proton will have repulsions between protons
one
stable nuclei typically have a ——- proton to neutron ratio
one to one
belt of stability
shows us which nuclides are stable
nuclei with an ——- number of protons and neutrons tend to be more stable
even
a nucleus can change identity if….
struck by a neutron or by another nucleus
elements after —— were discovered by bombarding isotopes w/ neutrons
uranium
synthetics have a —– half life
shorter
geiger counter
measures the amount of activity present in a radioactive sample
phosphors
substances that absorb radioactivity and emit light
radiotracers
radioisotopes used to study a chemical reaction
mass defect
mass difference
nuclear binding energy
energy needed to separate a nucleus into its individual nucleons
fission
heavy nuclei gets split into smaller nuclei
fusion
smaller nuclei come together
commercial nuclear plants use…
fission
critical mass
minimum mass required for a chain reaction to occur
supercritical mass
more than critical mass and the chain reaction cannot be controlled (explosions, weapons…)
control rods
block the paths of neutrons keeping the system from reaching supercritical mass
thermonuclear reactions
small atoms are combines and a lot of energy is released (sun)