P2 - Radioactivity Flashcards
What is the charge of a proton?
+1
Which 3 particles are contained in an atom?
Protons, neutrons and electrons
What is the charge of a neutron?
0
What is the charge of an electron?
-1
The total number of particles in a nucleus is called…
The mass number
What is an isotope?
Where atoms have the same number of protons but different mass numbers
When atoms either gain or lose electrons they are called…
Ions
What happens to ions with opposite charges?
They attract eachother
What happens to ions with like charges?
They repel each other
What are the three types of radiation
Gamma, beta, alpha
What is radioactivity?
Radioactive elements have an unstable nucleus. The atoms give off radiation in a process known as radioactive decay.
What happens during alpha decay?
A nucleus emits an alpha particle, which is made up of 2 neutrons and 2 protons.
What happens in beta decay?
Beta decay is when a neutron decays into a proton, emitting a beta particle in the process.
What particle does a beta particle have the same mass and charge as?
An electron
