Radioactivity

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to the lecture on radioactivity, including types of decay, measures of radioactivity, and applications in nuclear medicine.

Radioactivity

The property of some unstable atoms (radionuclides) to spontaneously emit nuclear radiation.

Alpha decay

A type of radioactive decay where an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle and transforms into another nuclide.

Beta decay

A type of radioactive decay involving the emission of beta particles from the nucleus.

Gamma decay

The emission of gamma rays from a nucleus following radioactive decay, often to reach a more stable state.

Radionuclide

An unstable isotope of an element that decays and emits radiation.

Half-life

The time taken for the activity of a radioactive material to fall to half its initial value.

Neutrino

A subatomic particle with no charge and negligible mass, emitted during certain types of radioactive decay.

Decay constant

The probability that a nucleus will undergo a transition in a given time period.

Becquerel (Bq)

The SI unit of radioactivity defined as one disintegration per second.

Radioactive decay curve

A graphical representation of the decrease in quantity of a radioactive substance over time.

Nuclear medicine

A medical specialty that uses radioactive substances to diagnose and treat diseases.

Radiopharmaceutical

A radioactive compound used for diagnosis or treatment in nuclear medicine.

Activity

The number of disintegrations of a radionuclide per unit time, often measured in Becquerels.

Specific activity

Activity of a radionuclide per unit mass, typically expressed in Bq/kg.