Nuclear Chemistry Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the Nuclear Chemistry lecture notes.

Nucleus

The dense center of an atom made of positive protons and neutral neutrons, held together by a strong force.

Nuclear Chemistry

The study of changes to the nucleus of an atom.

Radioactivity

The emission of radiation.

Radiation

Particles or energy released due to the disintegration of an atom’s nucleus.

Radioactive/Nuclear decay

The process by which an unstable nucleus loses energy and matter by emitting radiation.

Alpha radiation

Release of an alpha particle (2 protons and 2 neutrons) from the nucleus.

Beta radiation

A neutron mutates into a proton and an electron, and the electron is released from the nucleus.

Gamma radiation

Release of electromagnetic energy from the nucleus, often accompanying alpha or beta radiation.

Nuclear fission

Splitting of one larger atom into two or more smaller ones, typically initiated by firing a neutron into the nucleus.

Nuclear fusion

The fusing/combining of two or more lighter atoms into a larger one.

Tracers (in medicine)

Radioactive isotopes used to track molecules through the body or target cancerous cells.

Nuclear Weapons

Devices that use nuclear reactions for destructive purposes.

Chain reactions

An ongoing series of reactions, causing an exponential result, often utilized in nuclear weapons.

Nuclear Reactors

Power plants that use nuclear reactions to create energy.