part of the atom involved in a normal chemical reaction
What is an electron
Name 2 helpful uses of nuclear reactions
x-rays, treat cancers, generating heat and light
Part of the atom involved in a nuclear reaction.
nucleus
Three main types of nuclear radiation
alpha, beta, gamma
The elements used in the atomic bomb
Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239
Who discovered Polonium and Radium
Marie Curie
What is the main benefit of fission reactions?
huge amounts of energy
When was the first uranium bomb used?
1945
What isotope of uranium was found to be easily fissionable?
U-235
What are the reactants and products in a fission reaction?
A neutron and a fissionable isotope are reactants; more neutrons and smaller fragments are the products
Where are fusion reactions most common?
the sun
Compare and contrast fission and fusion. (One similarity, one difference)
both release high amounts of energy; both are nuclear reactions (involve the nucleus); fission is "splitting" a nucleus, fusion is combining 2 smaller nuclei; fission happens in nuclear power plants and atomic bombs, fusion is only observed on the sun.
What is mass defect in relation to fission?
The difference between the mass of the original nucleus and the combined product nuclei ('missing' mass is converted into energy)
What are the 3 most common byproducts of nuclear fusion?
helium, neutrons, and energy