Nuclear Chemistry Flashcards
What is background radiation
Background radiation is all around us. It can be natural or artificial
Natural sources of background radiation
Cosmic rays
Rocks that emit the radioactive gas radon
Artificial sources of background radiation
Radioactive waste
X-rays
What are radioisotopes
Radioactive isotopes of elements
What makes an isotope stable
The neutron to proton ratio. The lower the atomic number the more stable the nuclei
What is radioactivity
The result of unstable particles atomic nuclei decaying. As they decay they emit particles and energy until the ratio of protons to neutrons is stable
Alpha particles are
Heleim nuclei and contain two protons and two neutrons
Beta particles are
High energy electrons created when a neutron splits into a proton and an electron and the electron is ejected
Gama radiation is
A type of electromagnetic wave radiation
What is half life
The time taken for half of the radioactive nuclei to decay
Uses of radioisotopes
Technetium-99m: medical tracer
Cobalt-60: treat tumours, serialise surgical instruments
Lead-210: date layers of sand and soil
Smoke alarms
