physical science chap. 6
Terms
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- atomic number
- the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
- electrons
- a negatively charged particle with an extremely small mass
- theory of relativity
- E=mc(2); an equation that establishes the relationship between loss of mass and loss of energy; that mass and energy are equivalent
- nuclear chemistry
- the study of reactions involving atomic nuclei
- fusion
- the joining together of smaller nuclei into a larger one
- energy level
- a region in an atom that contains electrons of a certain energy
- beta particle
- a free electron emitted from a nucleus in nuclear decay
- protons
- a positively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom; 1,836 times heavier than an electron
- law of definite proportions
- a chemical compound is always made up of the same elements in the same proportions
- alpha particles
- a particle made up of 2 protons and 2 neutrons; a helium nucleus
- isotopic notation
- a special notation which shows both the atomic number and the mass number of the element
- isotopes
- different forms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons
- radioactivity
- the emission of rays and particles from an unstable nucleus
- mass number
- the sum of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom; also known as atomic mass
- quantum model
- represents the location of electrons as general and indefinite, with electrons being present in cloud-like orbitals
- nuclear bombardment reaction
- occurs when the nucleus is struck with atomic particles or other nuclei
- orbitals
- regions of most probable location of electrons
- fission
- the splitting of a nucleus
- atomic mass unit (amu)
- a unit used to measure the mass of an atom; 1/12 of the mass of a carbon-12 atom
- planetary model
- Bohr's model of the atom, resembling a miniature 3-D solar system
- chain reaction
- a nuclear change that occurs when one unstable nucleus emits neutrons, which cause other nuclei to split and release neutrons, which hit other nuclei and continue the reaction, releasing a tremendous amount of energy
- nucleus
- the center of an atom, which contains protons and neutrons
- atomic mass
- the total of the masses of the particles in an atom
- neutron
- a neutral particle in the nucleus of an atom, with approximately the same mass as a proton
- radioactive dating
- a method used by evolutionists to try to prove the ages of fossils and rocks using radioactive decay