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
