Radioactivity Flashcards
What are alpha particles?
Helium nuclei, with a positive charge and little penetrating ability.
What is radioactivity?
The spontaneous breaking up of certain unstable nuclei, accompanied by the emission of radiation
What are beta particles?
Electrons, with a negative charge and greater penetrating ability than alpha particles
What are gamma rays?
High-energy electromagnetic radiation, with greater penetrating ability than beta particles
What is beta decay?
When an isotope undergoes beta decay, its atomic number increases by 1, while its mass number remains unchanged.
What is alpha decay?
When an isotope undergoes alpha decay, its atomic number decreases by 2, while its mass number decreases by 4.
What is half-life?
The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time taken for half of the atoms in a sample of the isotope to decay.
