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Rachel Berlin
Chapter 8 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 water; a proton acceptor. |
nuetralization | A chemical reaction between an acid and 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. |
radoisotope | An isotope with an unstable nucleus. |
nuclear radiation | Charged particles and electromagnetic waves that are emitted from the nuclei of the cells. |
alpha particle | A positively charged particle, emitted by certain radioactive nuclei, made up of 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 is 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 dissolved 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. |
ionization | The process by which neutral molecules gain or lose electrons. |