Definitions Flashcards
state definitions of the important terms
Electron Binding Energy
The strength of attachment of an electron to the nucleus
Atomic Mass Number
Number of protons + number of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom, always a whole number
Isotopes
Atoms that have the same atomic number but different atomic mass
Actual Atomic Mass
Determined by measurement and rarely a whole number
Isobars
Atomic nuclei that have the same atomic mass number but different atomic numbers
Isotone
Atoms that have the same number of neutrons but different number of protons
Isomer
Have the same atomic number and the same atomic mass number
Molecule
The structure formed when multiple atoms join together
Radiation
Energy emitted and transformed through space
Electromagnetic Radiation
Electromagnetic energy that travels through space
Radioactivity
The spontaneous emission of particles and energy in order to become stable
Radioisotope
When a nucleus contains too few or too many neutrons, the atom can disintegrate
radioactively, bringing the number of neutrons and protons into a stable ratio
Radioactive half-life
The time required for a quantity of radioactivity to be reduced to one-half of its original value
Ionization
Occurs when an x-ray passes close to an orbital electron of the atom and transfers sufficient energy to the electron to remove it from the atom
2 Types of Ionizing Radiation
Particulate Radiation & Electromagnetic Radiation
