EL1 Flashcards
What is the mass of an electron?
0.00055
What are isotopes?
Atoms of the same elements with different mass numbers.
Define relative atomic mass
An average of the relative isotopic masses.
What is mass spectrometry used for?
Used to find the atomic mass of elements and compounds.
What does mass spectrometry measure?
- Atomic or molecular mass of different particles in a sample.
- Relative abundance of different isotopes in an element.
What happens in a nuclear fusion reaction?
Two light atomic nuclei fuse together to form a single heavier nucleus of another element - releasing lots of energy.
Why can nuclear fusion not take place on earth?
Because at normal temperatures, the positive nuclei repel very strongly, so fusion cannot take place.
Why can fusion occur at high temperatures?
Because the nuclei are moving more quickly, and collide with so much energy that the repulsion is overcome.
