Nuclear Reactions and Radioactive Decay Processes

Binding Energy

Energy that holds the nucleus together.

Mass Defect

Difference between atom's mass and its particles.

E=mc²

Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared.

Radioactive Isotopes

Unstable isotopes emitting particles and energy.

Gamma Rays

Pure energy without mass or charge.

Alpha Particle

Helium-4 nucleus, positively charged.

Beta Particle

An electron emitted from the nucleus.

Gamma Emission

Release of pure energy following decay.

Nuclear Reactions

Involve rearrangement of protons and neutrons.

Chemical Changes

Involve rearrangement of electrons.

Neutron Emission

Release of a neutron from the nucleus.

Positron Emission

Conversion of a proton to a neutron.

Fission

Splitting a nucleus into smaller nuclei.

Fusion

Combining low weight nuclei into larger ones.

Half-Life

Time for half of a reactant to decay.

Critical Mass

Minimum mass required for a chain reaction.

Transmutation

One element transforms into another.

Electron Capture

Nucleus captures an electron to form a neutron.

Decay Rate

Rate at which a radioactive isotope decays.

Nuclear Binding Energy

Energy required to disassemble a nucleus.

Nuclear Medicine

Use of radioisotopes for diagnosis and treatment.

Radioactive Dating

Determining age using half-life measurements.

Food Irradiation

Using radiation to kill bacteria in food.

Radioactive Tracers

Used to explore chemical pathways in studies.

Ionizing Smoke Detectors

Use americium-241 for smoke detection.

Henri Beckerel

Accidentally discovered radioactivity in 1896.

Marie Curie

Pioneered research on radioactivity.

Pierre Curie

Contributed to the study of radioactivity.