Nuclear Chemistry

Question 1

binding energy

Answer 1

the amt of energy required to remove Nucleons from a Nucleus

Question 2

Mass-Energy Equivalence Formula

Answer 2

E = mc^2

Question 3

nucleons

Answer 3

collective term for protons and neutrons, the particles tat make up the nucleus of an atom

Question 4

mass defect

Answer 4

the diff between the total mass of the individual nucleons in a nucleus and the nucleus as a whole

Question 5

normal chem reactions

Answer 5

when the outermost electrons do stuff/interact usually (v. when protons and neutrons react)

Question 6

(when) protons & neutrons (nucleus) react

Answer 6

nuclear reactions: much more energy released, etc. ; not common; can cause element type to change (since protons = elements’ ID)

Question 7

changing one element to another or one isotope to another

Answer 7

transmutation

Question 8

goal/purpose of nuclear reactions=?

Answer 8

same as with norm. chem reactions—Stability

Question 9

stability of certain combos of protons & neutrons

Answer 9

some more stable than others

Question 10

radioactive decay (1)

Answer 10

decomposition of a nucleus to form a diff nucleus

Question 11

half-life

Answer 11

t1/2; the time it takes for exactly one-half of a radioactive sample to decay (into a new isotope)

Question 12

ionization radiation

Answer 12

the release of energy that allows an unstable nucleus to attain a more stable form

Question 13

types of radioactive decay

Answer 13

Alpha, Beta, Gamma

Question 14

excited state

Answer 14

energy level of an electron that is higher and less stable than other levels

Question 15

ground state

Answer 15

lowest, most stable energy level of an electron

Question 16

Alpha decay

Answer 16

α particle/Helium 4 nucleus (^4v2He) released; lower energy- can be stopped by paper, cloth

Question 17

Beta decay

Answer 17

β particle/electron (^0v-1e) released; higher energy- can still be stopped by aluminum or top layers of skin though

Question 18

Gamma decay

Answer 18

Y wave/ high-frequency electromagnetic energy (^0v0Y), electrons going from excited state to ground state; very strong- can penetrate almost anything

Question 19

radioactive decay (2)

Answer 19

the spontaneous breakdown of an unstable nuclei by naturally emitting a small particle (alpha, beta, proton, neutron, electron)

Question 20

nuclear decay

Answer 20

an unstable nuclei undergoes a natural breakdown process

Question 21

(nuclear) fussion

Answer 21

nuclei(or nuclear particles) combining (to form one nucleus)

Question 22

(nuclear) fission

Answer 22

large nuclei break down into smaller large nuclei