Unit 17 Nuclear Chemistry Vocab

the action of dividing or splitting something into two or more parts.
The splitting of a nucleus into smaller and more stable fragments with the release of enough energy to heat the center of the Earth or run a nuclear power plant or make a nuclear bomb.

the process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity
The process of binding smaller atomic nuclei into a single larger and more stable nucleus.

the spontaneous transformation of an unstable atomic nucleus into a lighter one, in which radiation is released in the form of alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, and other particles.
A spontaneous process in which unstable nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation.

ny of several species of the same chemical element with different masses whose nuclei are unstable and dissipate excess energy by spontaneously emitting radiation in the form of alpha, beta, and gamma rays

ionizing radiation consisting of alpha particles, emitted by some substances undergoing radioactive decay.

Beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons emitted by certain types of radioactive nuclei, such as potassium-40. The beta particles emitted are a form of ionizing radiation also known as beta rays. The production of beta particles is termed beta decay.

a photon of penetrating electromagnetic radiation (gamma radiation) emitted from an atomic nucleus.

The time required to convert one half of a reactant to product

a decrease that follows an exponential function