Chapter 18: Radioactivity and Nuclear Reactions

Radioactive isotopes

________ can be located by detecting the radiation they emit.

unstable nucleus decays

When a(n) ________, particles and energy called nuclear radiation are emitted from it.

Radiation

________ can be used to stop some types of cancerous cells from growing.

Cloud Chamber

________: used to detect alpha or beta particle radiation.

nuclear fusion

For ________ to occur, positively charged nuclei must get close to each other.

Electrons

________ that are stripped off gas molecules in a Geiger counter move to a positively charged wire in the device.

Tracer

________: When a radioisotope is used to find or keep track of molecules in an organism.

Gamma rays

________ cause less damage to biological molecules as they pass through living tissue.

Alpha Particle

________: made of two protons and two neutron.

Radioactive dating

________ also can be used to estimate the ages of rocks.

Radioactivity

________: The process of nuclear decay.

Transmutation

________: the process of changing one element to another through nuclear decay.

Geiger Counter

________: a device that measures the amount of radiation by producing an electric current when it detects a charged particle.

nucleus

The ________ left after the isotope decays is called the daughter ________.

Critical Mass

________: the amount of material required so that each fission reaction produces approximately one more fission reaction.

Half Life

________: the amount of time it takes for half the nuclei in a sample of the isotope to decay.

Nuclear Fission

________: The process of splitting a nucleus into several smaller nuclei.

Gamma radiation

________ is an electromagnetic wave.

Beta particles

________ are much faster and more penetrating than alpha particles.

Large nuclei

________ tend to be unstable and can break apart or decay.

ratio of neutrons

The ________ to protons is related to the stability of the nucleus.

Nuclear radiation

________ moving through the air can remove electrons from some molecules in air.

alpha decay

In ________, two protons and two neutrons are lost from the nucleus.

Alpha particles

________ lose energy more quickly when they interact with matter than the other types of nuclear radiation do.

radioactive isotopes

Traces of naturally occurring ________ are found in the food, water, and air consumed by all animals and plants.

Nuclear Fusion

________: the amount of material required so that each fission reaction produces approximately one more fission reaction.

Gamma Rays

________: electromagnetic waves with the highest frequencies and the shortest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum.

alpha particles

When ________ pass through matter, they exert an electric force on the electrons in atoms in their path.

Background Radiation

________ is low- level radiation emitted mainly by naturally occurring radioactive isotopes found in Earths rocks, soils, and atmosphere.

radioactive isotope

The ________ carbon- 14 often is used to estimate the ages of plant and animal remains.

alpha particle

A(n) ________ is the same as the nucleus of a helium atom and has a charge of +2 and an atomic mass of 4.

Alpha particles

________ can be stopped by a sheet of paper.

alpha particle

When an atom emits a(n) ________, it has two fewer protons, so it is a different element.

Alpha particles

________ can be dangerous if they are released by radioactive atoms inside the human body.

The Strong Force

causes protons and neutrons to be attracted to each other

Radioactivity

The process of nuclear decay

Alpha Particle

made of two protons and two neutron

Transmutation

the process of changing one element to another through nuclear decay

Beta Particle

electron emitted from the nucleus in a neutron decay

Cloud Chamber

used to detect alpha or beta particle radiation

Bubble Chamber

holds a superheated liquid, which doesnt boil because the pressure in the chamber is high

Nuclear Fission

The process of splitting a nucleus into several smaller nuclei

Chain Reaction

The series of repeated fission reactions caused by the release of neutrons in each reaction

Critical Mass

the amount of material required so that each fission reaction produces approximately one more fission reaction

Nuclear Fusion

the amount of material required so that each fission reaction produces approximately one more fission reaction