What is an isotope? ... Radioactive isotopes
What makes isotopes so dangerous?
Isotopes that are not radioactive are called “stable” isotopes. During radioactive decay, a radioactive isotope gives off some type of radiation. ... Radioactive isotopes can be dangerous to living things . They can also cause damage to equipment such as electronics.
What makes isotopes radioactive quizlet?
Define an isotope and explain what makes some isotopes radioactive. Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons and behave identically in chemical reactions, but have different numbers of neutrons. A radioactive isotope is one in which the nucleus decays spontaneously, giving off particles, and energy .
Are all isotopes radioactive quizlet?
Stable isotopes do not undergo radioactive decay . ... You just studied 14 terms!
What causes an isotope to become unstable quizlet?
-Nuclei are unstable when there are a relatively high number of protons per neutron . Unstable nuclei decay to stable ones by giving off radiation (particles, energy, and/or heat). ... The time of radioactive decay is measured in half-lives. Heavy isotopes change to stable ones in a series of radioactive decays.
What is the most dangerous element?
Plutonium A History of the World's Most Dangerous Element.
How long do radioactive isotopes stay in the body?
This varies from isotope to isotope, but medically speaking, these isotopes usually have a half life any where from a few hours to several days . (Meaning that if an isotope has a half life of six hours, then the radiation will dissipate in a total of twelve hours.)
What do radioactive isotopes do?
Radioactive isotopes have many useful applications. In particular, they are central to the fields of nuclear medicine and radiotherapy. In nuclear medicine, tracer radioisotopes may be taken orally or be injected or inhaled into the body. ... In radiotherapy, radioisotopes typically are employed to destroy diseased cells .
How do radioactive isotopes become more stable quizlet?
unstable nuclei that break apart in nuclear reactions to become more stable. These are also called radioisotopes. the process of an unstable nucleus breaking down by releasing high energy radiation. As the unstable nucleus decays, it becomes more stable.
What do buffers do quizlet?
The function of a buffer is to resist changes in the pH of a solution when acid (HCl) or base (NaOH) (small amount) is added.
Why are isotopes useful?
Isotopes of an element all have the same chemical behavior, but the unstable isotopes undergo spontaneous decay during which they emit radiation and achieve a stable state. This property of radioisotopes is useful in food preservation , archaeological dating of artifacts and medical diagnosis and treatment.
How are isotopes different?
Isotopes. An isotope is one of two or more forms of the same chemical element. Different isotopes of an element have the same number of protons in the nucleus , giving them the same atomic number, but a different number of neutrons giving each elemental isotope a different atomic weight.
What are isotopes of an element quizlet?
Isotopes are atoms of an element with the normal number of protons and electrons, but different numbers of neutrons . Isotopes have the same atomic number, but different mass numbers.
What does an alpha particle look like?
An alpha particle is identical to a helium atom that has been stripped of its two electrons ; thus, an alpha particle contains two protons and two neutrons. Because an alpha particle has no electrons to balance the positive charge of the two protons, it has a charge of +2 and can be represented as He 2 + .
What happens when an atom loses an alpha particle?
Alpha decay is one process that unstable atoms can use to become more stable. During alpha decay, an atom's nucleus sheds two protons and two neutrons in a packet that scientists call an alpha particle. Since an atom loses two protons during alpha decay, it changes from one element to another.
What causes a nucleus to be unstable quizlet?
Too many neutrons or protons can cause a nucleus to become unstable and decay. Nuclei with more than 83 protons are always unstable. a series of fission processes in which the neutrons emitted by a dividing nucleus cause the division of other nuclei.
