Nuclear Chemistry Flashcards
Both protons and neutrons
nucleons
atoms of the same element with different number of neutrons
isotopes
When protons and neutrons come together to form a nucleus, some of the mass is lost and converted into ___ ___, which is the amount of energy required to ____ a particle from a system of particles or to ___ all the particles of a system
binding energy, separate, disperse
The difference between the theoretical calculated mass of the nucleus and the actual smaller mass of the nucleus is called the __ __, and is related to the binding energy by ____. This number is not that big and only accounts for __ ___ between the individual components and the molecule
mass defect, e = mc^2, small differences
Nuclear fission is when a very heavy ___ collides with a ____, and splits into ___ smaller atoms, releasing neutrons and __ in the process
nucleus, neutron, two, energy
Nuclear fusion is when two or more ____ nuclei fuse into one larger nuclei, releasing __, and neutrons in the process
smaller, energy
In both fission and fusion, __ __ and __ ___ are conserved
proton number, mass number
radioactive decay occurs when the nucleus of an ___ element is ___ converted into a more ____ element and a ____ particle
unstable, spontaneously, stable, radioactive
alpha decay results in the release of a ____ particle, which is a ___ particle.
alpha, helium
There are two types of beta particles that can be released in beta decay, ___ and __.
B+, B-
beta B+ decay happens when the ___ ratio is < 1 and a ___ is emitted, which has a mass of 0 and a charge of ___. Essentially, a proton releases a positive charge to become a ___. Therefore the __ ___ is not affected by the __ ___ decreases
N/Z, positron, +1, neutron, mass number, atomic number
Beta minus decay happens when the N/Z ____, and a beta particle with a mass of __ and a charge of -1 is emitted. Essentially, a nucleus releases a ___ charge, which makes a neutron transform into a ___. Therefore the mass number is unaffected, but the atomic number ____
> 1, 0, negative, proton, increases
Electron ___ is a type of beta decay in which the nucleus of an atom draws in an __ __ ___. This happens when a positive nucleus captures an electron from its innermost shell, combining with a ___ to create a ___. This results in an unchanged mass number, but ____ atomic number, and results due to attempting to balance the ___ ratio. It results in ____ release
capture, inner shell electron, proton, neutron, decreased, N/Z, X-ray
Gamma decay involves an unstable atomic nuclei ___ its excess energy by spontaneously releasing ___ ___. Mass number and atomic number are both ____.
dissipating, gamma rays. unchanged
Alpha rays are stopped by ____, while beta rays can go through that but are stopped by ____ and ____. X-rays can go through the former two, but are stopped by ___, ____, and other metal plates. ____ rays are the same as x-rays. A ____ can penetrate everything but ___ and ___. The __ the particle the more penetrating it is
paper, wood, aluminum, lead, iron, gamma, neutron, water, concrete, smaller
The time it takes for half the parent isotope to decay into the daughter isotope
half life
All decay processes are __ ___ reactions, and an element’s half life stays the ___ no matter how much sample is present
first order, same
General formula for a half life
amount remaining = initial amount x (1/2)^n (n = number of half lives)
