Physical Science

Nuclear Fission

refers to splitting of a

heavy nucleus into a lighter nuclei

Nuclear Fussion

a reaction through which light

nuclei combine to form heavier nucleus.

Mass Number

The number of protons plus the number of neutrons in a nuclide

Atomic Number

The number of protons in a nuclide

Isotopes

Atoms with the same number of protons

but different number of neutrons.

Neutron Number

number of neutrons in the nucleus.

Transmutation

is the process of

changing one element to a different

element by the decaying process.

Nuclear decay reaction

also called

radioactive decay, an unstable nucleus emits

radiation and is transformed into the nucleus of

one or more other elements. The resulting

daughter nuclei have a lower mass and are

lower in energy (more stable) than the parent

nucleus that decayed.

Nuclear transmutation reaction

a nucleus reacts with a subatomic particle

or another nucleus to form a product

nucleus that is more massive than the

starting material.

Radioactivity

a nucleus reacts with a subatomic particle

or another nucleus to form a product

nucleus that is more massive than the

starting material.