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Nuclear Radiation
Key vocabulary terms for Chapter 16 (sections 1 & 2)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is radioactivity? | (Also known as radioactive decay). The process by which high energy particles and energy are given off by unstable atoms. |
| What is mass number? | The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. |
| What is alpha decay? | A helium nucleus - two protons and two neutrons. A form of radioactive decay. |
| What are the three kinds of radioactive decay? | Alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay. |
| What is beta decay? | The release of a beta particle (either an electron or positron) from an unstable nucleus. |
| What is gamma decay? | The release of gamma rays (most energetic form of light) from an unstable nucleus. |