Nuclear Chemistry and Radioactivity

This section explores the fundamental concepts of nuclear chemistry and radioactive processes. The content covers essential aspects of radioactive decay, nuclear reactions, and various types of radiation.

Definition: Radioactivity is the spontaneous breakdown of unstable nuclei until they become stable, accompanied by the emission of radiation.

Highlight: All nuclear reactions are exothermic, releasing energy through radiation during nuclear decay processes.

Example: Common radioisotopes include C-14, O-18, and K-42, which have different proton-to-neutron ratios than stable isotopes.

Vocabulary:

• Radioisotope: Unstable atomic nuclei with an unbalanced proton-to-neutron ratio
• Nuclear reaction: Process involving changes in atomic nuclei, accompanied by energy release
• Transmutation: The conversion of one element into another through nuclear processes

The section details various types of radiation particles, including:

• Alpha particles (α): Helium nuclei with mass 4 and charge +2
• Beta particles (β): Electrons or positrons with minimal mass
• Gamma radiation (γ): High-energy electromagnetic waves with no mass or charge