Nuclear Chemistry

Picture Vocabulary

Chemistry

Radioactivity

The processes by which unstable

atomic nuclei achieve stability.

Radiation

The complete process in which

energy is emitted as particles or waves.

Radioactive Decay

The spontaneous emission of radiation

by an unstable nucleus.

Nuclear Reaction

The process in which a nucleus that is stimulated

will emit a nucleon without a significant change
in its atomic weight.

Nuclear Equation

An equation that shows how a nucleus

gains or loses subatomic particles.

Alpha Particle

A positively-charged particle identical to the helium

atom nucleus with two protons and two neutrons
that is emitted from radioactive decay of a
nucleus.

Beta Particle

A negatively-charged electron emitted

from the radioactive decay of a nucleus.

Gamma Ray

Ionizing electromagnetic radiation of

very high frequency and energy emitted from
the radioactive decay of a nucleus.

Alpha Decay

The type of radioactive decay in which an

atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle which results in
the transformation of an atom with a mass number 4 less
and an atomic number that is 2 less.

Beta Decay

The type of radioactive decay in which the

neutron-to-proton ratio is too great in the nucleus and
causes instability, resulting in a neutron
being transformed into a proton and an electron.

Gamma Decay

The type of radioactive decay in which the nucleus of an

atom is at too high an energy and results in the reduction
of energy state and the emission of a high energy
photon.

Transmutation

Natural or artificial conversion of an atom of one

element into an atom of another element by the
emission of radiation from an unstable nucleus.

Nuclear Fission

The splitting of a nucleus into smaller fragments

that results in the release of neutrons
and a large amount of energy.

Nuclear Fusion

A reaction in which two light nuclei combine

to produce a nucleus of heavier mass and
result in the release of a large amount of energy.