nuclear binding energy

The force which holds the nucleus together

Nuclei do not break apart A stable nucleus with a large amount of binding energy per nucleon (proton or neutron) will be held together tightly

natural radioactivity

When there is too little binding energy per nucleon, the nucleus will be less stable and may disintegrate (come apart)

artificial radioactivity

Created when scientists smash nuclear particles together and cause nuclear reactions between normally stable nuclei

Henri Becquerel, Marie Curie, and Pierre Curie

Shared the discovery of radioactivity and were awarded the 1903 Noble Prize

Results in the emission of a helium-4 nucleus as an alpha (α) particle

A neutron is converted to a proton and a high-energy electron that is ejected from the nucleus as a β particle

A nucleus in an excited state releases energy in the form of a photon when it returns to the ground state. These high-energy photons are γ rays.

In very massive nuclei with high neutron-to-proton ratios, the nucleus can break into two pieces that have different atomic numbers and atomic masses.

Nonionizing radiation

Relatively low in energy; when it collides with an atom in a molecule or an ion, most or all of its energy can be absorbed without causing a structural or a chemical change.

relatively high in energy, and when it collides with an atom, it can completely remove an electron to form a positively charged ion that can damage biological tissues

Help

Options

focusNode

Didn't know it?
click below

Knew it?
click below

Don't Know

Remaining cards (0)

Know

retry

shuffle

restart

0:00

Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.

Normal Size Small Size show me how

Nuclear Chemistry

Term	Definition
alpha particle	a helium nucleus (a particle containing two protons and two neutrons)
beta particle	a high-speed electron
gamma rays	a very high energy form of light (even higher energy than x-rays)
nuclear binding energy	The force which holds the nucleus together
stable	Nuclei do not break apart A stable nucleus with a large amount of binding energy per nucleon (proton or neutron) will be held together tightly
natural radioactivity	When there is too little binding energy per nucleon, the nucleus will be less stable and may disintegrate (come apart)
artificial radioactivity	Created when scientists smash nuclear particles together and cause nuclear reactions between normally stable nuclei
Henri Becquerel, Marie Curie, and Pierre Curie	Shared the discovery of radioactivity and were awarded the 1903 Noble Prize
alpha (α) decay	Results in the emission of a helium-4 nucleus as an alpha (α) particle
beta (β) decay	A neutron is converted to a proton and a high-energy electron that is ejected from the nucleus as a β particle
Gamma (γ) emission	A nucleus in an excited state releases energy in the form of a photon when it returns to the ground state. These high-energy photons are γ rays.
spontaneous fission	In very massive nuclei with high neutron-to-proton ratios, the nucleus can break into two pieces that have different atomic numbers and atomic masses.
Nonionizing radiation	Relatively low in energy; when it collides with an atom in a molecule or an ion, most or all of its energy can be absorbed without causing a structural or a chemical change.
ionizing radiation	relatively high in energy, and when it collides with an atom, it can completely remove an electron to form a positively charged ion that can damage biological tissues

Created by: Nicole Dickson

"Know" box contains:
Time elapsed:
Retries: