Nuclear Vocab List

Radioisotope

An isotope of an element that is unstable and emits radiation

X-ray

A form of electromagnetic radiation with enough energy to penetrate matter.

Penetrating power

The ability of radiation to pass through matter

Transmutation

The process of changing one element into another element.

Band of stability

The region on a graph of neutrons versus protons where stable nuclei are found.

Radioactive decay series

A series of radioactive decays in which one unstable nucleus changes into another until a stable nucleus is reached.

Radiochemical dating

A method of determining the age of a material by measuring the amounts of radioactive isotopes and their decay products.

Half-life

The time required for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay.

Strong nuclear force

The force holding protons and neutrons together in the nucleus.

Nuclear fission

The splitting of a heavy nucleus into two smaller nuclei, releasing energy.

Nuclear fusion

The combining of two light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy.

Alpha particle

A particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons emitted during alpha decay.

Beta particle

A high-energy electron emitted from a nucleus during beta decay.

Gamma ray

A high-energy electromagnetic wave emitted from a nucleus.

Alpha decay

A type of radioactive decay in which an alpha particle is emitted from the nucleus.

Beta decay

A type of radioactive decay in which a neutron changes into a proton and a beta particle is emitted.

Critical mass

The minimum amount of fissionable material needed for a nuclear chain reaction.

Subcritical

Describes an amount of fissionable material that is too small to sustain a chain reaction.

Supercritical

Describes an amount of fissionable material large enough to sustain an increasing chain reaction.

Ionizing radiation

Radiation with enough energy to remove electrons from atoms and form ions.

Radiotracer

- A radioactive isotope used to track the movement of a substance through a system.

Proton-neutron ratio

The ratio of the number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus.