Radioactive Elements:

Tracers

Tracers

________: radioactive isotopes that can be followed through the steps of a chemical reaction or an industrial process.

beta decay

During ________, a neutron in an unstable nucleus changes into a negatively charged beta particle + a proton.

Alpha + Beta decay

________ are almost always accompanied by gamma radiation.

Nuclear Reactions

________: involve the particles in the nucleus of an atom.

nonradioactive forms

They behave chemically like ________ of an element.

Radioactivity

when an element (uranium) spontaneously emits radiation, named by Marie Curie, worked on by her, her husband, and Henri Becquerel

Beta Particle

________: fast- moving electron given off by a nucleus during radioactive decay.

atomic mass

They have no charge + do not cause a change in either the ________ or the atomic.

French scientist

1896- ________ Henri Becquerel accidentally discovered the effects of Radioactive Decay.

Alpha Particle

________: consists of two protons + two neutrons; positively charged.

Radioactive Decay

________: process where atomic nuclei of radioactive isotopes release fast- moving particles and energy.

Radioactive Decay

process where atomic nuclei of radioactive isotopes release fast-moving particles and energy

Nuclear Reactions

involve the particles in the nucleus of an atom

ex/ Nuclear Fission

process in which atomic nuclei split apart

ex/ Nuclear Fusion

process in which atomic nuclei join together

1896

French scientist Henri Becquerel accidentally discovered the effects of Radioactive Decay

Radioactivity

when an element (uranium) spontaneously emits radiation, named by Marie Curie, worked on by Marie Curie, her husband chemist Pierre Curie, and Becquerel who presented his findings to the Curies

Alpha Particle

consists of two protons + two neutrons; positively charged

Beta Particle

fast-moving electron given off by a nucleus during radioactive decay

Gamma Rays(also known as gamma radiation)

consist of high-energy waves, similar to x-rays

Uses of Radioactive isotopes

determining the ages of fossils, tracing the steps of a chemical reaction and industrial processes, diagnosing and treating disease, and providing sources of energy

Half-life

(of a radioactive substance) the length of time needed for half of the atoms of a sample to decay, different for each radioactive isotope (can range from less than a second to billions of years)

Radioactive Dating

when scientists measure the amount of carbon-14 in a preserved fossil to calculate how many half-lives have passed since it died and estimate the age

Tracers

radioactive isotopes that can be followed through the steps of a chemical reaction or an industrial process