Intro Nuclear Chem

Nuclear reactions release ENORMOUS amounts of energy

transform energy

transform mass

cannot create mass or energy

Atomic mass- the number of protons and neutrons

Atomic number- the number of protons

Nuclear decay (radiation)- unstable nucleus emits radiation and is transformed into the nucleus of one or more other elements, produces daughter atoms

Nuclear transmission- nucleus reacts with a subatomic particle or another nucleus to form a product nucleus that is more massive than the starting material

positrons- same mass as an electron with opposite charge

neutrino- neutral charge with almost 0 mass

⁴₂^{α - alpha decay}

⁰_-1β- beta decay

⁰₊₁β - positron emission

⁰₀γ - gamma decay

Alpha decay- Element that have a mass greater than 200, releasing an alpha particle

Beta decay- Conversion of a neutron to a proton and a high energy electron that is released

positron emission- Conversion of a proton to a neutron releasing a high energy positron (size of an electron with opposite charge)