Nuclear Chemistry Flashcards
Nucleans
Protons and Neutrons
Nuclide
What an atom is referred to as
Mass Defect
the difference between the mass of an atom and the sum of the masses of its protons, neutrons, and electrons
Band of Stability
The stable nuclei cluster over a range of neutron-proton ratios is referred to as
Nuclear Reaction
Reaction that affects the nucleas of an atom
Transmutation
is a change in the identity of a nucleus as a result of a change in the number of its protons.
Transuranium elements
are elements with more than 92 protons in their nuclei
The strong Nuclear Force
is the force that holds the nuclei of atoms together. (Holds the nucleons together.) Acts over Short distances (The nucleons need to touch).
Radioactive Decay
is the spontaneous disintegration of a nucleus into a slightly lighter nucleus, accompanied by emission of particles, electromagnetic radiation, or both.
Nuclear Radiation
is particles or electromagnetic radiation emitted from the nucleus during radioactive decay.
Alpha Particle
is two protons and two neutrons bound together and is emitted from the nucleus during some kinds of radioactive decay.
beta particle
is an electron emitted from the nucleus during some kinds of radioactive decay.
Positron
is a particle that has the same mass as an electron, but has a positive charge, and is emitted from the nucleus during some kinds of radioactive decay.
electron Capture
an inner orbital electron is captured by the nucleus of its own atom. The atomic number decreases by one and the mass number stays the same
Gamma Rays
are high-energy electromagnetic waves emitted from a nucleus as it changes from an excited state to a ground energy state.
Parent Nuclide
The heaviest nuclide of each decay series
Daughter Nuclides
The nuclides produced by the decay of the parent nuclides
roentgen ®
is a unit used to measure nuclear radiation exposure; it is equal to the amount of gamma and X ray radiation that produces 2 × 109 ion pairs when it passes through 1 cm3 of dry air. Ionization can damage living tissue.
Nuclear Fission
a very heavy nucleus splits into more-stable nuclei of intermediate mass. Enormous amounts of energy are released. The mass of the products is less than the mass of the reactants. The missing mass is converted to energy.
Chain Reaction
is a reaction in which the material that starts the reaction is also one of the products and can start another reaction.
Critical Mass
The minimum amount of nuclide that provides the number of neutrons needed to sustain a chain reaction
Nuclear Fusion
low-mass nuclei combine to form a heavier, more stable nucleus. Nuclear fusion releases even more energy per gram of fuel than nuclear fission.
Half Life, t1/2
is the time required for half the atoms of a radioactive nuclide to decay.
For atoms of low atomic number, the most stable nuclei have a neutron-proton ratio that is
1:1 or 1.5:1
What fraction of a given sample of a radioactivenuclide remains after four half-lives?
1/16
When does a decay series end?
When the nuclide becomes stable
Describe fusion, and explain how it is used in our sun and other stars.
a very heavy nucleus splits into more-stable nuclei of intermediate mass.
Converts hydrogen to helium
Converts mass to energy
Describe fission, and explain how it is used in a nuclear reactor.
low-mass nuclei combine to form a heavier, more stable nucleus.
The heat used to heat the water is made from nuclear fission
