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Proton
a subatomic particle with a positive charge
+1
What is the charge of a proton?
The nucleus
Where is the proton located in an atom?
Neutron
a subatomic particle with a neutral charge
0
What is the charge of a neutron?
The nucleus
Where is the neutron located in an atom?
Electron
a subatomic particle with a negative charge
-1
What is the charge of an electron?
The orbitals
Where is the electron located in an atom?
Nucleus
the positively charged center of the atom consisting of protons and neutrons
Orbital
a function describing the possible location of an electron in an atom
Atom
indivisible and indestructible
Atomic Mass
the average mass of an element based on the percent abundance of its isotopes
Average Atomic Mass Equation
(mass of isotope #1 x % abundance) + (mass of isotope #2 x % abundance) + …
Atomic Number
the number of protons
Mass Number
the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons
Isotope
when an atom has the same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons
Quantum
describes the location and energy level of an electron in an atom
Quantum Mechanical Model
tells us that electrons orbit the atom in random ways and pictures the atom as being surrounded by an electron cloud containing all the possible places that the electron might be
Electromagnetic Spectrum
the range of all types of EM radiation
Alpha Particle
composite particles consisting of two protons and two neutrons tightly bound together
+2
What is the charge of an alpha particle?
A helium atom’s nucleus
What is an alpha particle equivalent to?
Beta Particle
a high-energy, fast-moving electron or positron emitted from the nucleus of an unstable atom during radioactive decay
-1
What is the charge of a beta particle?
A neutron turning into a proton that releases an electron
What is a beta particle equivalent to?
Decay
change of an element into a different element, usually with some other particle(s) and energy emitted
Fission
a neutron hitting an unstable nucleus and causing it to split into smaller nuclei; releases a good amount of energy
Fusion
two small nuclei merge to form one large nucleus; releases a large amount of energy (the sun)
Fusion Gamma Ray
the high-energy gamma radiation emitted during a nuclear fusion reaction
Half-Life
the time it takes for a radioactive element to lose half of its mass
Radiation
the emission of energy from a source in the form of waves or particles, typically coming from unstable atoms undergoing radioactive decay, where the nucleus releases energy as it attempts to become stable
Radioactivity
the release of energy from the decay of the nuclei of certain kinds of atoms and isotopes
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