nuclear chemistry vocab + notes

a process that changes the nucleus of an atom by releasing/absorbing energy

nuclear reaction

atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons

isotope

a nuclear reaction in which 2 light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing large amounts of energy

fusion

high speed electron emitted from decaying nucleus and has a medium penetration

beta particle

the time it takes for half of a sample of a radioactive substance to decay into a stable form

half-life

process of changing energy from one form to another

energy transformation

high-energy electromagnetic waves released from a radioactive nucleus and has no mass or charge; has a high penetration power

gamma radiation

the central core of an atom and made of protons and neutrons; contains most of the atoms mass

nucleus

series of nuclear fission reactions in which the neutrons released by reaction reaction cause additional fission reactions

chain reaction

nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits into smaller nuclei, releasing energy

fission

a type of radiation made of 2 protons and 2 neutrons

alpha particle

process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation 

radioactive decay

is the sun/stars an example of fission or fusion?

fusion

is the chain reaction in U-235 (the atomic bomb) an example fission or fusion

fission

what are the conditions needed for nuclear fusion to occur?

extremely high pressure and temperature (greater than 40 million degrees celsius)

what are the conditions needed for nuclear fission to occur?

a neutron needs to be released from a previous U-235 nuclei that went through fission

what happens to the energy in a nuclear fission reaction

the energy comes from kinetic energy from fission fragments; emitted neutrons turn to heat as they collide with surrounding atoms

what happens to the energy in a nuclear fusion reaction

the mass is transferred into thermal energy, releasing large amounts of energy greater than fission

how many protons and neutrons are in Strontium - 90?

38 protons and 52 neutrons

does this diagram show nuclear fission or nuclear fusion?

fusion

does this diagram show nuclear fission or nuclear fusion?

fission

name the family of radioactive elements

Actinide family

find the subatomic particles of  ¹⁴C (carbon-14).

6 protons, 8 neutrons, 6, electrons

who discovered radioactive decay

Henri becquerel, marie curie and her husband

what are the 3 types of radiation and what are their penetration powers

alpha (weak), beta (medium), and gamma (strong)

what are the advantages of radiation

medical treatment, energy generation, and industrial use

what are the disadvantages of radiation

illness, nuclear accidents, difficult disposal

which elements are more likely to be radioactive

elements with a high atomic number are unstable (83)

what is the process of creating energy in a nuclear power plant

fission occurs in the reactor core, releasing heat →heats water → produces steam → steam spins turbine → turbine drives generator → ELECTRICITY → steam cools back to water to be reused

what does the boiling water reactor  (BWR) do

water boils inside the reactor and turns directly into steam

what does the pressurized water reactor (PWR)  do

water is kept under pressure so it does not boil, but steam is still produced