Periodic Families and Nuclear Reactions

Practice flashcards covering periodic table families, differences between metals and non-metals, nuclear fusion, and nuclear decay series based on the practice test.

Metals

Elements that give away electrons and form positive ions (e.g., $\text{Na}^+$).

Nonmetals

Elements that take electrons and form negative ions (e.g., $\text{Cl}^-$).

Halogen Family

A periodic family characterized by forming $-1$ charges, having valence electrons, and being highly reactive (e.g., Bromine, $\text{Br}$).

Noble Gases

A non-metal family characterized by having a perfect octet/full shell of valence electrons, making them non-reactive (e.g., Neon, $\text{Ne}$, and Xenon, $\text{Xe}$).

Metalloids

Elements categorized as exhibiting properties of both metals and non-metals (e.g., Silicon, $\text{Si}$).

Metal Families

The periodic families classified under metals: Alkali, Alkaline Earth, Transition, Post Transition, Actinide, and Lanthanide.

Non-Metal Families

The periodic families classified under non-metals: Reactive Non Metal, Halogen, and Noble Gas.

Alkaline Earth Metal

The metal family that includes Calcium ($\text{Ca}$).

Lanthanide

The metal family that includes Erbium ($\text{Er}$).

Actinide

The metal family that includes Uranium ($\text{U}$) and Curium ($\text{Cm}$).

Post-Transition Metals

The metal family that includes Lead ($\text{Pb}$), Aluminum ($\text{Al}$), and Gallium ($\text{Ga}$).

Reactive Non-Metals

The non-metal family category that includes Oxygen ($\text{O}$) and Nitrogen ($\text{N}$).

Transition Metal

The metal family that includes Copper ($\text{Cu}$).

Nuclear Fusion

A nuclear process where smaller atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus and release energy, such as $\text{H} + \text{H} \rightarrow \text{He} + \text{n} + \text{Energy}$.

Fusion of Two Helium-4 Atoms

The fusion reaction ${}_2^4\text{He} + {}_2^4\text{He} \rightarrow {}_4^8\text{Be}$, producing a beryllium-8 nucleus from two helium atoms weighing $4\,\text{amu}$ each.

Alpha Decay

A type of nuclear decay where a nucleus emits an alpha particle (${}_2^4\text{He}$), demonstrated in reactions such as ${}_{86}^{222}\text{Rn} \rightarrow {}_{84}^{218}\text{Po} + {}_2^4\text{He}$, ${}_{84}^{218}\text{Po} \rightarrow {}_{82}^{214}\text{Pb} + {}_2^4\text{He}$, and ${}_{84}^{214}\text{Po} \rightarrow {}_{82}^{210}\text{Pb} + {}_2^4\text{He}$.

Beta Decay

A type of nuclear decay where a nucleus emits an electron/beta particle (${}_{-1}^0\text{e}$), demonstrated in reactions such as ${}_{82}^{214}\text{Pb} \rightarrow {}_{83}^{214}\text{Bi} + {}_{-1}^0\text{e}$ and ${}_{83}^{214}\text{Bi} \rightarrow {}_{84}^{214}\text{Po} + {}_{-1}^0\text{e}$.

Gamma Decay

A type of nuclear decay where an excited nucleus releases high-energy gamma radiation ($\gamma$) without changing atomic number or mass number, represented by ${}_{82}^{210}\text{Pb} \rightarrow {}_{82}^{210}\text{Pb} + \gamma$.

Radon-222 Decay Series

A sequence of $6$ consecutive decay reactions (three alpha decays, two beta decays, and one gamma emission) that breaks down Radon (${}_{86}^{222}\text{Rn}$) into an isotope of Lead (${}_{82}^{210}\text{Pb}$).