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Vocab ch. 17 Science
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| radio activity | the process by which an unstable nucleus gives off nuclear radiation |
| mass number | the sum of the numbers protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom |
| isotope | atoms that have the same number of protons as other atoms of the same element do but that have different numbers of neutrons |
| half-life | the time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive substance to undergo radioactive decay |
| nuclear fission | process by which a large nucleus splits into 2 small nuclei and realeases energy |
| nuclear chain reaction | a continuous series of nuclear fission reactions |
| nuclear fusion | 2 or more nuclei that have small masses combine, or fuse, to form a larger nucleus |