Nuclear Chemistry and Radioactive Decay

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental concepts of nuclear chemistry, nuclear forces, radioactive decay types, and radiometric dating.

Transmutation

The conversion of an atom of one element into an atom of another element.

Radioactivity

The process by which nuclei emit particles and rays.

Nuclear radiation

The particles and rays emitted by a radioactive source.

Strong nuclear force

The attractive force that holds quarks together to form protons and neutrons, and holds neutrons and protons together within atomic nuclei.

Alpha (a) decay

The process that occurs when an unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle.

Alpha particle

A particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons; it has a double positive charge.

Weak nuclear force

The force through which certain fundamental particles interact, resulting in some forms of radioactive decay.

Beta (B) decay

A type of radioactivity involving the conversion between neutrons and protons with the emission of a beta particle.

Beta particle

An electron or positron that results from the conversion between neutrons and protons during beta decay.

Parent isotope

An isotope that undergoes radioactive decay.

Daughter isotope

An isotope produced by the radioactive decay of another isotope.

Band of stability

The location of stable nuclides on a plot of protons versus neutrons.

Half-life

The amount of time it takes for half of a radioactive isotope to decay.

Radiometric age dating

A method of estimating the age of a material by comparing the relative amounts of a radioactive isotope and its daughter isotope in the material.