1. Nuclear Chemistry
Vocabulary

2. alpha radiation
Alpha particles emitted from a radioactive isotope are called ____.

3. beta radiation
High-energy electrons, carrying a negative charge, that are sent out by some radioactive nuclei are known as ___.

4. fission
The splitting of the nucleus of an atom into nuclei of lighter atoms, accompanied by the release of energy, is called ___.

5. fusion
A reaction in which nuclei of light atoms join to form nuclei of heavier atoms, as the combination of deuterium atoms to form helium atoms is called ___, which releases energy.

6. gamma radiation
Electromagnetic radiation emitted from the nucleus of an atom by radioactive decay is called ___.

7. half-life
The time required for one half the atoms of a given amount of a radioactive substance to disintegrate is called the substance's ___.

8. radioactive decay
___ is the disintegration of a nucleus that occurs spontaneously or as a result of electron capture. One or more different nuclei are formed and usually particles and gamma rays are emitted.