Section 17.2- Nuclear Stability Flashcards
the stability of an atoms is determined by the ________ and _______________ of protons and neutrons in its nucleus
number
arrangement
most nuclides are
unstable
force that holds the nucleus together
acts of protons and neutrons
is able to overcome the natural repulsion between protons and bind them together into a stable unit
strong nuclear force
the conversion of one nuclide into another in a spontaneous nuclear reaction
radioactive decay
the phenomenon in which the mass of every atom is measurably less than the total mass of its individual particles
nuclear mass defect
the nuclear mass defect is a straightforward consequence of Einstein’s
theory of relativity
one of the most famous equations in all the modern science
E = mc^2
energy = mass x (speed of light)^2
we can regard energy as having
mass
holds the nucleus together
strong nuclear force
one idea as to what is involved with the strong nuclear force
quark theory
the density of a nucleus of an atom is
VERY HIGH
states that matter and energy can neither be destroyed or created, only changed from one form to another
law of conservation of matter and energy
the nuclear mass defect is equivalent to the ______________ is the hypothetical formation of a nucleus from its parts
energy released
the energy equivalent of the mass defect may also be called the
the amount of energy necessary to break up a nucleus into its component nucleons
nuclear binding energy
1 J = _________________ kg
= _________________ u
1.1 x 10 ^-17 kg
6.7 x 10^9 u
a nucleus must have ____________ mass than atomic number in periodic table
less
a more convenient unit on the atomic scale
defined as the kinetic energy gained by an electron when it is accelerated through i V of electrical potential
electron volt (eV)
1 J = _________________ eV
6.2415 x 10 ^18
1 eV = ______________ J
1.6022 x 10^-19 J
1 u = ____________ MeV
931.5 (Megaelectron Volt)
a more meaningful quantity for comparing nuclei that is found by dividing the binding energy by the number of nucleons in the nucleus
binding energy per nucleon
the higher the binding energy per nucleon, the ___________ the nucleus is held together
more strongly (more stable)
binding energy per nucleon can be increase for heavy elements by their splitting into lighter nuclei in a process known as
fission
the binding energy per nucleon for the lighter elements can be increased by their combining into heavier nuclei in a process known as
fusion
