Chapter 21 Nuclear Chemistry Vocabulary Answers – Flashcards
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nuclide
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an atom that is identified by the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus
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nucleons
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particles in the nucleus
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mass defect
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the difference between the mass of an atom and the sum of the masses of the atom's protons, neutrons, and electrons
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nuclear binding energy
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the energy released when a nucleus is formed from nucleons
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nuclear shell model
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a model that represents nucleons as existing in different energy levels, or shells, in the nucleus
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magic numbers
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the numbers (2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, and 126) that represent the number of particles in an extra-stable atomic nucleus that has completed shells of protons and neutrons
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nuclear reaction
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a reaction that affects the nucleus of an atom
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transmutation
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the transformation of atoms of one element into atoms of a different element as a result of a nuclear reaction
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Radioactive decay
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the disintegration of an unstable atomic nucleus into one or more different nuclides, accompanied by the emission of radiation, the nuclear capture or ejection of electrons, or fission
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nuclear radiation
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the particles that are released from the nucleus during radioactive decay, such as neutrons, electrons, and photons
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radioactive nuclide
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a nuclide that contains isotopes that decay and that emit radiation
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alpha particle
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a positively charged atom that is released in the disintegration of radioactive elements and that consists of two protons and two neutrons
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beta particle
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a charged electron emitted during certain types of radioactive decay, such as beta decay
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positron
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a particle that has the same mass and spin as an electron but that has a positive charge
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electron capture
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the process in which an inner orbital electron is captured by the nucleus of the atom that contains the electron
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Gamma rays
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high-energy electromagnetic waves emitted from a nucleus as it changes from an excited state to a ground energy state
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Half-life
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the time required for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to break down by radioactive decay to form a daughter isotope
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decay series
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a series of radioactive nuclides produced by successive radioactive decay until a stable nuclide is reached
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parent nuclide
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a radionuclide that yields a specific daughter nuclide as a later member of a radioactive series
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daughter nuclides
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the nuclides produced by the decay of the parent nuclides
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artificial transmutations
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bombardment of nuclei with charged and uncharged particles
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Transuranium elements
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elements with more than 92 protons in their nuclei
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Radioactive dating
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the process by which the approximate age of an object is determined based on the amount of certain radioactive nuclides present
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nuclear fission
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the splitting of the nucleus of a large atom into two or more fragments; releases additional neutrons and energy
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nuclear fusion
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the combination of the nuclei of small atoms to form a larger nucleus; releases energy
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critical mass
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the minimum mass of a fissionable isotope that provides the number of neutrons needed to sustain a chain reaction
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chain reaction
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a reaction in which the material that starts the reaction is also one of the products and can start another reaction
