The Atom
To be or not to be (stable)
The ABCs of Decay
Starstruck
Nukes n' things
100

This particle has been called the 'nametag' of an element, since it defines the atom's identity.

What is a proton? 

100

Elements can become this term if they have either too many particles or energy in the nucleus. 

What is radioactive/unstable? 

100

This type of radioactive decay causes the atomic number of an element to decrease by two. 

What is alpha decay?

100

Stars rely on this process to produce lots of light and heat energy, which involves two or more nuclei combining to form a new nucleus. 

What is fusion? 

100

This type of nuclear reaction is what powers commercial nuclear reactors. 

What is fission? 

200

This part of an atom contains 99% of the mass of the atom.

What is the nucleus?

200

Elements usually need a similar number of these particles in order to be considered stable. 

What are protons and neutrons? 

200

When this type of decay occurs, high energy waves are dramatically released from the nucleus. 

What is gamma decay? 

200

When a nucleus is split into smaller nuclei, it undergoes this process

What is fission?

200

A modern nuclear warhead consists of two explosion stages: a first stage fueled by the splitting of uranium or plutonium atoms followed by this type of nuclear reaction caused by the implosion and combination of isotopes of hydrogen. 

What is fusion?

300

This particle carries a charge opposite to that of a proton, but has a mass less than half of one-thousandth of the mass of a proton. 

What is an electron? 

300

Different versions of an element are known by this name.


What is an isotope?

300

They may not share identities, but the result of nuclear decay has this family-like relationship to the original atom. 

What is a daughter nucleus? 

300

Every element on the Periodic Table was created through this process

What is fusion? 

300

Nuclear reactors produce energy without releasing any of this polluting airborne particle, unlike coal, oil, and gas powerplants.


What is carbon dioxide?

400

This particle is responsible for creating different versions of elements by appearing in different numbers in a nucleus.

What is a neutron? 

400

Nuclei can decay randomly; either spontaneously or when this event happens to it.


What happens when a particle collides with the nucleus?

400

When Carbon-14 decays, it becomes a Nitrogen-14 as it undergoes this type of radioactive decay.

What is beta minus decay? 

400

The first nuclear weapons produced heat as hot as the surface of the Sun, but operated through this process

What is fission? 

400

This medical procedure, sometimes called radiotherapy, uses radioactivity to target and kill cancer cells.

What is chemotherapy? 

500

These three elements appear in every observed living thing.

What are carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen? 

500

This Group 7 Transition Metal is the first radioactive element on the Periodic Table, with an atomic number significantly lower than other radioactive elements. 

What is technetium? 

500

If Uranium-235 decays into Thorium-231 and then becomes Protactinium-231, it has gone through these two types of decay. (order matters)

What is alpha decay then beta minus decay? 

500

This is the name of the explosion of a star, which results in the heavy elements in the star being spread throughout the surrounding space. 

What is a supernova? 

500

The two nuclear bombs used at the end of WW2 were dropped on these two Japanese cities


What are Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

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