Types of Radioactivity Flashcards
What is a nuclide?
A specific isotope of an element
What is alpha decay?
When an unstable/radioactive isotope emits two protons and two neutrons (He-4)
What is a nuclear equation?
An equation representing different nuclear processes (e.g., radioactivity), it looks a bit like a balanced equation
What is a parent nuclide?
The original isotope
What is a daughter nuclide?
The product of decay
What is ionizing power?
The ability of radiation to ionize other molecules and atoms (e.g., alpha particles have the highest ionizing power)
What is penetrating power?
The ability of radiation to enter other molecules and atoms (e.g., alpha particles have the lower penetrating power because the particle is large)
What is beta decay?
When an unstable/radioactive isotope emits an electron by changing a neutron to a proton, causing the atomic number to increase by one
What is gamma ray emission?
The emission of a short wavelength wave of photons from an excited particle (e.g., a particle undergoing alpha or beta decay)
What is a metastable state?
An unstable state that can exist for a prolonged period of time (until a gamma ray is emitted)
What is a positron?
A particle that is equal in mass but opposite in charge to an electron
What causes an isotope to emit a positron?
A proton change to a neutron and a positron is emitted to neutralize its charge, causing the atomic mass to decrease by one
What is electron capture?
When an unstable/radioactive element moves an electron from its inner orbital to an outer orbital, resulting in the proton transforming into a neutron because there is now an opposing negative charge to its positive charge, decreasing atomic number