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Chapter 10 Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| radioactive decay | the disintegration of an unstable atomic nucleus into one or more different nuclides, accompanied by the emission of radiation, the nuclear capture or ejection of electrons, or fission |
| nuclear radiation | the particles that are released from the nucleus during radioactive decay, such as neutrons, electrons, and photons |
| alpha particle | a positively charged particle that consists of two protons and two neutrons and that is emitted from a nucleus during radioactive decay; it is identical to the nucleus of a helium atom and has a charge of +2 |
| beta particle | an electron or positron that is emitted from a nucleus during radioactive decay |
| gamma ray | the high-energy photon emitted by a nucleus during fission and radioactive decay |
| half-life | the time required for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to break down by radioactive decay to form a daughter isotope |
| fission | the process by which a nucleus splits into two or more fragments and releases neutrons and energy |
| nuclear chain reaction | a continuous series of nuclear fission reactions |
| critical mass | the minimum mass of a fissionable isotope that provides the number of neutrons needed to sustain a chain reaction |
| fusion | the process in which light nuclei combine at extremely high temperatures, forming heavier nuclei and releasing energy |
| background radiation | the nuclear radiation that arises naturally from cosmic rays and from radioactive isotopes in the soil and air |
| rem | the quantity of ionizing radiation that does as much damage to human tissue as 1 roentgen of high-voltage X rays does |
| radiactive tracer | a radioactive material that is added to a substance so that its distribution can be detected later |
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