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Alpha particle

A helium nucleus

Artificial transmutation

a transmutation caused by bombarding a nucleus with a high-energy particle, such as a neutron or an alpha particle

Beta particle

high energy electrons whose source is an atomic nucleus

Fission

splitting of large nuclei into middle weight nuclei and neutrons

Fusion

the combining of light nuclei into a heavier nucleus

Gamma ray

high energy ray similar to an X ray

Half-life

the length of time for half of a given sample of a radioisotope to decay

Radioisotope

an unstable nucleus that is radioactive

Tracer

a radioisotope used to track a chemical reaction

Transmutation

the changing of a nucleus of one element into that of a different element