protons and electrons have an equal but opposite charge
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What is the atomic number?
the number of protons
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What is the mass number?
the total number of protons and neutrons
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Isotopes
atoms with the same number of protons (atomic number and so the same charge on the nucleus) but a different number of neutrons (a different mass number) as an element
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What happens to unstable isotopes?
they tend to decay into other elements and give out radiation as they try to become more stable (radioactive decay)
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What do isotopes release when they decay?
neutrons
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What is ionising radiation?
radiation that knocks electrons off atoms creating positive ions
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What is ionising power?
how easily ionising radiation knocks off electrons to make positive ions