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radioisotopes
isotopes of atoms with unstable nuclei
emit radiation to attain a more stable atomic configuration in radioactive decay
nuclear stability
determined by the neutron to proton ratio of an atom's nucleus
nucleons
positively charged protons and neutral neutrons contained in an atom's densely packed nucleus
strong nuclear force
a force that acts only on subatomic particles that are extremely close together and it overcomes the electrostatic repulsion between protons.
band of stability
the region within a graph which all stable nuclei are found when plotting the number of neutrons versus the number of protons for all stable nuclei
atoms above the band of stability
atoms below the band of stability
too many neutrons to be stable atoms
too many protons to be stable
beta decay
decreases the number of neutrons and increases the number of protons in the nucleus it lowers the n/p ratio and causes an atom to be closer or within the band of stability
alpha decay
all nuclei with more than 83 protons are radioactive and decay spontaneously neutrons and protons must be reduced to make nuclei stable the mass number decreases by 4 and the atomic number decreases by 2 in this decay
positron emission
nuclei with low neutron to proton ratios lying below the band of stability involves the emissions of a positron from a nucleus a proton is converted into a neutron and a positron
positron
a particle with the same mass as an electron but with the opposite charge.
electron capture
decreases the number of protons in unstable nuclei lying below the band of stability the nucleus draws in an electron the __________ combines with a proton to form a neutron an x-ray proton is emitted (similar to a gamma ray)
radioactive decay series
a series of nuclear reactions that begins with an unstable nucleus and results in a stable nucleus
transmutation
conversion of an atom of one element to an atom of another element all nuclear reactions are these reactions induced transmutation
transuranium elements
elements with the atomic number of 93 and higher reproduced synthetically by induced transmutation
fission
the split of a nucleus into smaller more stable fragments with a large release of energy
chain reaction
a self sustaining process in which one reaction initiates the next
critical mass
the minimum amount of a sample of fissionable material necessary to sustain a nuclear chain reaction
subcritical mass
sample that is not massive enough to sustain a charge
supercritical mass
sample that has a mass greater than the critical mass
fusion
the process of binding smaller atomic nuclei together into a single large and more stable nucleus drawbacks: requires extremely high temperature to initiate, confinement of the reaction as no material can withstand the extreme temp.
nuclear reactors
uses fission to generate electricity
uses control rods to prevent the chain reaction to race out of control to absorb neutrons
drawbacks: some products are extremely radioactive and must be stored as nuclear waste, storage is an issue as is nuclear power, it stays radioactive for thousands of years
film badges
a device containing a piece of radiation sensitive material used to monitor exposure
ionizing radiation
radiation energetic enough to ionize matter with which it collides high energy ____ is dangerous as it can fragment and ionize molecules in biological tissue as it causes a disruption of normal cell function. can affect *somatic (nonreproductive) and **genetic cells
*affects the organism during their lifetime (cancer and burns) **affects genes and chromosomes
geiger counter
a radiation detection device that uses ionizing radiation in its operation
electron
0/-1 e
positron
0/1 (beta symbol)
neutron
1/0 n
proton
1/1 p
beta
0/-1 (beta symbol)
roentgen equivalent for man
called rems the unit used to describe the amount of radiation that affects the human body you are exposed to 0.1-0.3 rems of radiation annually an x-ray exposes you to approximately 0.0005 rems
biological effects
factors: energy of the radiation type of tissue absorbing the radiation distance from the source of radiation
radiation poisioning
illness such as cancer caused by the radiation from inside the body as dangerous levels of radioactive material are breathed, ingested, or injected
radiation sickness
effects such as nausea, vomiting, hemorrhage, massive overdose of penetrating radiation.
radiation injury
effects such as burns and loss of hair less penetrating