Nuclear Chemistry Flashcards
What do A, Z, and X represent?
A: atomic mass
Z: atomic number
X: atomix symbol
What charge are alpha particles?
Positive
What charge are beta particles?
Negative
What charge are gamma particles?
Uncharged
What happens in a nuclear reaction with alpha decay?
An alpha particle is emitted, the atomic number decreases by 2 and the mass number decreases by 4
What happens in a nuclear reaction with beta decay?
A beta particle is emitted, the atomic number increases by 1 and the mass number is unchanged
What happens in a nuclear reaction with electron capture?
An electron is added, the atomic number decreases by one and the mass number is unchanged
What happens in a nuclear reaction with positron emission?
An electron is removed, atomic number is decreased by one, mass number is unchanged
What is the particle of α?
Alpha particle
What is the particle of β?
Beta particle
What is the particle of β+?
Positron
What is the particle of γ?
Photon
What is the particle of p?
Proton
What is the particle of n?
Neutron
Rank radiation types from least to most damaging
Alpha, Beta, Gamma
What is an antiparticle?
A particle with a mass equal to the subatomic particle, but with an opposite charge
What are magic numbers?
The numbers at which nuclei are more likely to be stable
What condition might cause positron emission or electron capture?
Too many protons present
What condition might cause beta emission?
Too many neutrons present
What condition might cause alpha emission or spontaneous fission?
Being too large
What condition might cause gamma emission?
Being in an excited state
