Radiation Concepts - Terms to Know

atom

smallest particle of an element that still possesses the chemical properties of that element

atomic mass number (A)

the mass of an atom; is equal to the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom

atomic number

The number of nuclear protons in an atom unique to each element; AKA the Z Number

chemical energy

the form of energy releases during a chemical reaction

compound

a substance made up of two or more elements chemically bonded together in a fixed ratio

electrical energy

the result of movement of electrons; AKA Electricity

Electromagnetic Radiation (EM)

a form of energy resulting from electric and magnetic disturbances in
space; AKA Electromagnetic Energy

Electromagnetic Spectrum

describes the different forms of electromagnetic radiation

Electrons

negatively charged subatomic particle of an atom

Electron Binding Energy

the amount of energy needed to remove the electron from an atom

Electron Volt (eV)

measurement of binding energy of an electron

Element

a simple substance; it cannot be broken down into any simpler substances by ordinary means

Excitation

process in which electrons in an atom are moved to a higher-energy state without being removed from the atom

Heat

the result of the motion of atoms and molecules; AKA Thermal Energy

Ion

an atom that has gained or lost an electron

Ionization

the process of adding or removing an electron from an atom, so that it acquires a net electrical charge

Isotope

atoms that have the same number of protons in the nucleus but differ in the number of neutrons

Kinetic Energy

the energy of motion

K-shell

the orbital shell closest to the nucleus

Mass

the quantity of matter contained in an object

Mechanical Energy

a form of energy that an object has because of its motion and its position; can be potential or kinetic

Mixture

the combination of two or more substances

Molecule

two or more atoms chemically united; the smallest compound that still possesses the characteristics of the compound

Neutrons

subatomic particle of an atom containing no charge

Nuclear Energy

the energy stored in the bond of the nucleus of an atom

Nucleons

the protons and neutrons that make up the nucleus

Nucleus

the small dense center of an atom; consists of protons and neutrons

Octet Rule

the number of electrons in the outermost shell never exceeds eight electrons

Photon

a small bundle of energy; the amount of energy depends on the frequency; AKA a quantum

Potential Energy

the energy an object has because of its position

Protons

positively charged subatomic particles of an atom

Quarks

subnuclear structure that makes up protons and neutrons

Radiation

energy emitted and transferred through matter

Substance

a material that has a definite and constant composition

Valence

a chemical combining characteristic of an element; determined by the number of electrons in the outermost shell

Weight

the force that an object exerts under the influence of gravity