Chapter 20: Nuclear Chemistry Flashcards
What happens in alpha decay?
The parent nuclide releases a helium nucleus (alpha particle).
What is ionizing power?
The destructive power of radiation.
What is penetrating power?
How far radiation can get.
What happens in beta decay?
The parent nuclide releases an electron (beta particle) from the nucleus; a neutron becomes a proton.
What is a positron?
The anti-particle of the electron; has the same mass but a +1 charge.
Rank the ionizing powers of the different types of radioactive decay.
- alpha decay
- B decay and positron emission
- gamma-ray emission
Rank the penetrating powers of the different types of radioactive decay.
- gamma-ray emission
- B decay and positron emission
- alpha decay
What happens in electron capture?
An inner electron is absorbed by the nucleus.
What order kinetics do nuclear decay processes follow? Why?
The rate of a rxn for an elementary step is defined by the rxn stoichiometry. Thus, we should expect that nuclear decay processes follow first order kinetics.
What is mass defect?
The difference in mass between a particular isotope and the mass of its constituent protons and neutrons.
What does it mean to have a negative mass defect?
Energy is released in the rxn.
What does it mean to have a positive mass defect?
Energy must be put in to the rxn.
What is nuclear binding energy?
The energy required to separate the nucleus of an atom into protons and neutrons.
What is fission?
A process in which a nucleus splits into two or more smaller units.
What is fusion?
A process in which two nuclei combine to form a more massive nucleus.
