a helium nucleus

charge = +2

high energy

low velocity

ejection reduces atomic number by 2 amu and atomic weight by 4 amu

an electron ejected from the nucleus when a neutron decays to a proton

increases atomic number by one

high velocity

low energy

usually emitted with beta radiation

has neither charge nor mass

high energy

travels at the speed of light

in a chemical reaction the elements bonds are broken and new molecules formed

in a radioactive reaction new elements are formed; nuclei are changed

the time it takes for half of a radioactive sample to decay

it can range from a fraction of a second to many years

the conversion of an element to a new element due to a change due to a change in number of protons

example: alpha or beta decay

the breakdown of heavy nuclei into lighter nuclei

the source of "nuclear power"

the joining of lighter nuclei to form heavier nuclei

source of the sun's energy

binding energy

which element have the smalled binding energy

the amount of energy released when a nucleus is formed from its compnent particles

(the heaviest and lightest nuclei have the smallest binding energies)

write the nuclear equation

1. U²³⁸ loses an alpha

2. Th²³⁴ loses a beta particle

1. ₉₂U²³⁸ → ₉₀Th²³⁴ + ₂He⁴

2. ₉₀Th^234 →  ₉₁Pa²³⁴ + _-1e⁰

a reaction produced during nuclear fission when at least 1 neutron form each fission produces another fission

the reaction is self-sustaining