1. A cation is a positively charged ion. It forms when an atom loses one or more electrons. For example, when sodium (Na) loses an electron, it becomes a sodium cation with a positive charge (Na+).
2. An anion is a negatively charged ion. It forms when an atom gains one or more electrons. For instance, when chlorine (Cl) gains an electron, it becomes a chloride anion with a negative charge (Cl-).
3. An isotope is a variant of a chemical element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons. This difference in neutrons leads to variations in atomic mass. For example, carbon-12 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon.
4. The two main types of isotopes are stable isotopes, which do not undergo radioactive decay, and radioactive isotopes, which are unstable and undergo radioactive decay.
5. Transmutation is the process of changing one element into another through nuclear reactions. This can occur naturally, as in radioactive decay, or artificially in nuclear reactors.
6. The three types of radioactivity are alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay.
- Alpha decay releases alpha particles, which consist of two protons and two neutrons.
- Beta decay releases beta particles, which can be electrons or positrons.
- Gamma decay releases gamma rays, which are high-energy electromagnetic radiation.
7. Half-life is the time taken for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay. The half-life of uranium-238 is approximately 4.5 billion years, meaning it takes that amount of time for half of the uranium-238 atoms in a sample to decay.
8. Radiation is measured in units such as sieverts (Sv) or grays (Gy). Treatment becomes ineffective at very high radiation levels, as the damage caused to cells and tissues overwhelms the body's ability to repair itself, leading to harmful effects.
