click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Ch.16 vocab cards
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What does radioactivity mean? | the process by which and unstable nucleus gives off nuclear radiation. |
| What does isotope mean? | an atom that has the same atomic number as other atoms of the same element do. |
| What is a mass number? | the sum of the numbers of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. |
| What is a half-life? | the time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive substance to undergo radioactive decay. |
| What is nuclear fission? | the process by which a large nucleus splits into two small nuclei that releases energy. |
| What is nuclear fusion? | two or more nuclei that have small masses combine, or fuse, to form a larger nucleus. |
| What is a nuclear chain reaction? | a continuos series of nuclear fission reactions. |