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radioactivity!
chapter 16
Question | Answer |
---|---|
radioactivity | the process by which an unstable neclues give off nuclear radiation |
mass number | the sum of the numbers of protons and nuetrons in the nucleus of an atom |
radioactive decay | same thing as radioactivity |
alpha decay | the release of an alpha particle from the nucleus |
alpha particle | made up of 2 protons and 2 neutrons |
beta decay | the release of a beta particle from a necleus |
beta particle | electron or positron |
isotopes | atoms that have the same number of protons as other atoms of the same element do but that have different number of nuetrons |
gamma rays | energy given off during alpha and beta decay in the form of light that is very high energy |
gamma decay | the release of gamma rays from a nuclues |
radiation sickness | a single large exposure to radiation side effects: fatigue, hair loss, and and loss of appetite |
half-life | the time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive substanse to under go radioactivve decay |
nuclear fission | the splitting of the nucleus of a large atom into two or more fragments; releases additional neutrons and energy |
nuclear chain reaction | a continuous series of nuclear fission reactions |
nuclear fussion | the combination of the nuclei of small atoms to form a larger nucleus; releases energy |