Nuclear Chemistry Worksheet Answers – Flashcards
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Radiation
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a general term for any type of energy that emanates or radiates outward in all directions
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Electromagnetic radiation (ER)
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radiation moving at the speed of light, ranging from high-energy gamma rays to low energy radio waves; includes visible light
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Electromagnetic spectrum
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all forms of electromagnetic radiation
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Ionizing radiation
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radiation with sufficient energy to ionize atoms or molecules (higher energy ER); damages DNA
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Non-ionizing radiation
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radiation with insufficient energy to ionize atoms or molecules (lower energy ER)
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Marie Curie
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studied radioactivity and completed much of the pioneering work on nuclear changes. Won two Nobel Prizes (the first for discovering radioactivity; the second for discovering the radioactive elements radium and polonium)
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Nuclear reactions
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involve changes in particles in an atom's nucleus and thus cause a change in the atom itself
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Isotope
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atoms of the same element having different numbers of neutrons and, therefore, a different mass number and atomic mass
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Hyphen notation
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(example) U-238
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Nuclear notation
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(example) ⁴2 He
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Transmutation
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change in identity of a nucleus because of a change in the number of its protons
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Radioactive isotope
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an isotope with an unstable nucleus that undergoes radioactive decay
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Radioactive decay
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the spontaneous break-down of a nucleus into a slightly lighter nucleus, accompanied by the emission of nuclear radiation
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Nuclear radiation
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particles or ER emitted from a nucleus during radioactive decay
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Alpha particle (a)
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helium nucleus (+2); 2 protons and 2 neutrons bound together emitted from a radioactive nucleus ⁴2 He
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Beta particle (B)
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electron (-) ejected at a high speed when a neutron changes into a proton and an electron 0-¹ B
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Gamma ray (y)
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form of high-energy ER (∅); often emitted during and simultaneous to, a or B radioactive decay 00 y
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Half-life
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time needed for decay of one-half the atoms in a sample of radioactive material
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Nuclear bombardment
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nucleus is bombarded with alpha particles, protons, neutrons or other particles
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Nuclear fission 1
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process in which a heavy nucleus splits to form medium-weight nuclei; Ex: TMI
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Chain reaction
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in fission reactions, neutron are emitted; these neutrons can split more nuclei and a chain reaction can occur
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Critical mass
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mass of fissionable material needed to sustain a nuclear chain reaction
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Nuclear fusion
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the process in which light weight nuclei combine to form heavier, more stable nucleus; Ex: the sun
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Nuclear fission 2
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the process in which a very heavy nucleus splits to form medium-weight nuclei; Ex: TMI (nuclear power plant)
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Mass defect
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the missing mass of a nuclear reaction that is converted into energy
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mass number
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The _ is written after the hyphen next to the name of the isotope.
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decreases
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During a nuclear reaction the stability of the nucleus _ as it gives off small amounts of energy.
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radioactive
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Gamma emission, beta decay, and alpha decay are produced during the process of _ decay.
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shortest
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The least stable isotope would have the _ half-life.
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Nuclear binding energy
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the source of energy in a nuclear reaction
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fission
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After uranium-235 absorbs a neutron it breaks into smaller isotopes and releases more neutrons during a _ reaction.
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Gamma radiation
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used to image the human body because it easily travels through dense objects
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multiplying
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The purpose of the control rods in nuclear power plants is to absorb some of the neutrons, thus keeping the chain reaction from _.
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more
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When a uranium nucleus splits the mass of the uranium is _ than the mass of Ba¹⁴¹, Kr9², and 2 neutrons produced.
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proton
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The decay of barium and krypton change a neutron into a _ within the nucleus during a beta decay.
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The Law of Conservation of Mass number
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the sum of the mass number on the reactant side must equal the sum of the mass number on the product side
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The Law of Conservation of change (atomic #)
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the sum of the atomic number on the reactant side must equal the sum of the atomic number on the product side
