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Noah Vega
Chapter 8 and 10 Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| acid | a compound that produces hydronium ions when dissolved in water; a proton donor. |
| indicator | a substance that changes color in the presence of an acid or a base. |
| base | a compound that produces hydroxide ions when dissolved in ions; a proton acceptor. |
| neutralization | a chemical reaction between an acid or a base. |
| salt | an ionic compound formed when an acid reacts with a base. |
| pH | a measure of the hydronium ion concentration of a solution. |
| buffer | a solution that is resistant to large changes in pH. |
| electrolyte | a compound that produces ions when it dissolves. |
| radioactivity | the process in which an unstable atomic nucleus emits charged particles and energy. |
| radioisotope | an isotope with an unstable nucleus. |
| nuclear radiation | charged particles and electromagnetic waves that are emitted from the nuclei of radioisotopes. |
| alpha particle | a positively charged particle, emitted by certain radioactive nuclei, made up of two protons and two neutrons; a helium nucleus. |
| beta particle | an electron emitted by an unstable nucleus. |
| gamma ray | a penetrating form of radiation emitted by an unstable nucleus. |
| background radiation | nuclear radiation that occurs naturally in the environment. |
| strong nuclear force | the powerful attractive force that binds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus. |
| fission | a nuclear reaction in which an atomic nucleus in split into two smaller parts. |
| chain reaction | a series of fission reactions triggered by neutrons released during the fission of a nucleus. |
| critical mass | the smallest possible mass of a fissionable material that can sustain a chain reaction. |
| fusion | a nuclear reaction in which the nuclei of two atoms combine to form a larger nucleus. |
| plasma | a state of matter in which atoms have been stripped of their electrons. |
| solute | a substance whose particles are dissolves in a solution. |
| solvent | a substance in which a solute dissolves. |
| dissociation | the separation of ions in an ionic compound as the compound dissolves. |
| dispersion | the process of dissolving by breaking into smaller pieces, the process in which white light separates into others. |
| ionization | the process by which neutral molecules gain or lose electrons. |