Nuclear Chemistry and Radioactive Decay

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key concepts of nuclear chemistry, types of radioactive decay, and the properties of subatomic particles based on the lecture notes.

a nuclear reaction may involve

all

Radioactive decay of $^{81}Rb$ involves _________, resulting in the formation of $^{81}Kr$ and the emission of an X-ray photon.

Electron capture

The product of beta emission from a radioactive isotope of lead is

Beta emission

The process described as the splitting of nuclei.

Fission

The process described as the combining of nuclei.

Fusion

Gamma radiation

The most penetrating type of radiation, consisting of rays with a charge of $0$.

Alpha particle

A particle emitted during radioactive decay that carries a charge of $+2$.

Beta particle

A particle emitted during radioactive decay that carries a charge of $-1$.

Band of stability

The region where stable nuclei fall when plotting the number of neutrons versus the number of protons.

Radioactive decay

The process by which naturally radioactive elements reduce the number of either neutrons or protons to lie within the band of stability.

Induced transmutation

The process of bombarding an element with particles, such as alpha particles, to produce a transuranium element or a different isotope.

Half-life

The time period required for the radioactivity of a compound to decrease to a specific percentage of its initial value; for example, the half-life of carbon-14 is $5770$ years.

Positron emission

A type of radioactive decay involving the emission of a positron ($\beta^+$).

Radioactive decay series

A sequence of reactions, such as the formation of $^{206}Pb$ from $^{238}U$, involving the emission of multiple alpha and beta particles.