Nuclear chemistry is the study of the chemical and physical properties of radioactive substances, and the changes in matter and energy associated with nuclear reactions.
What distinguishes nuclear reactions from chemical reactions?
Nuclear reactions involve changes in the nucleus and can lead to the formation of different elements, while chemical reactions involve the rearrangements of electrons without altering the nuclei.
Define radioactivity.
Radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of particles or electromagnetic radiation from an unstable atomic nucleus.
What is an isotope?
Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have different numbers of neutrons, and hence different atomic masses, but the same number of protons.
What are alpha particles?
Alpha particles are a type of radiation consisting of two protons and two neutrons, identical to a helium nucleus, emitted from some radioactive substances.
What is a beta particle?
A beta particle is a high-energy, high-speed electron or positron emitted during the radioactive decay process of a nucleon.
What is a gamma ray?
Gamma rays are high-frequency electromagnetic waves emitted from a nucleus during radioactive decay, having no mass nor charge.
What is nuclear fission?
Nuclear fission is a reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits into smaller nuclei, releasing energy.
Define nuclear fusion.
Nuclear fusion is a process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy.
What is half-life?
Half-life is the time required for half the quantity of a radioactive substance to undergo decay.