chem ch 6

transmutations, natural change of one isotope of one element into the isotope of another element by changing nucleus, unstable changes to more stable, changes atomic number and mass number, spontaneous decay in radioactive

nuclear emission

protons and neutrons stay the same, new atom, atomic number decrease by 2, mass number increases by 4, alpha particle is part of reactants

alpha radiation

neutron converted to proton, atomic number 1 greater than reactant, part of reactants

beta radiation

no mass, no transmutation of original

gamma

produce radioactive isotopes that further decay, uranium ores

radioactive decay series

equal mass to electron, +1 charge, decrease atomic number

positron

electron captured by nucleus, decrease atomic number

electron capture

nucleus of atom splits in two or more smaller atoms

nuclear fission

atoms fuse

nuclear fusion