Atomic Chemistry

Fission

________: A nuclear reaction in which a large nucleus breaks apart, producing two or more smaller nuclei, subatomic particles, and energy.

stream of high energy

The ________ particles or waves found in our environment is called natural background radiation.

Fusion

________: A process in which two low- mass nuclei join together to make a more massive nucleus.

Isotopes

________: Different atoms of a particular element that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Daughter Isotope

________: The stable product of radioactive decay.

Mass Number

________: The total number of protons and neutrons found in the nucleus of an atom.

Half Life

________ (Bio): The time it takes for a living tissue, organism, or ecosystem to eliminate one- half of a substance that has been introduced into it.

Nuclear Reaction

________: The process in which an atoms nucleus changes by gaining or releasing particles or energy.

Gamma Radiation

________: Rays of high- energy short- wavelength radiation emitted from the nuclei atoms.

Parent Isotope

________: The isotope that undergoes radioactive decay.

Decay Curve

________: A curved line on a graph that shows the rate at which radioisotopes decay.

Radiation

________: High- energy rays and particles emitted by radioactive sources.

Isotopes

________ are different atoms of a particular element that have the same number of protons, but different neutrons.

Alpha Particle

A positively charged atom particle that is more massive than a beta particle or gamma radiation and is relatively slow moving; has the same combinations of particles as the nucleus of a Helium atom

Beta Particle

A high-speed electron; emitted by a radioactive nucleus in beta decay

Chain reaction

An ongoing process in which one fission reaction initiates the next reaction

Daughter Isotope

The stable product of radioactive decay

Decay Curve

A curved line on a graph that shows the rate at which radioisotopes decay

Fission

A nuclear reaction in which a large nucleus breaks apart, producing two or more smaller nuclei, subatomic particles, and energy

Fusion

A process in which two low-mass nuclei join together to make a more massive nucleus

Gamma Radiation

Rays of high-energy short-wavelength radiation emitted from the nuclei atoms

Half-Life ( Bio)

The time it takes for a living tissue, organism, or ecosystem to eliminate one-half of a substance that has been introduced into it

Isotopes

Different atoms of a particular element that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons

Light

One form of radiation that is visible to humans

Mass Number

The total number of protons and neutrons found in the nucleus of an atom

Nuclear Equation

A set of symbols that indicates changes in the nuclei of atoms during a nuclear reaction

Nuclear Reaction

The process in which an atoms nucleus changes by gaining or releasing particles or energy

Parent Isotope

The isotope that undergoes radioactive decay

Radiation

High-energy rays and particles emitted by radioactive sources

Radioactive Dating

Determining the age of an object by measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining in it

Radioactive Decay

The process in which the nuclei of radioactive parent isotopes emit alpha, beta or gamma radiation to form decay products