Define the term mass number.
The total number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus is called the mass number of the element and is denoted by A.
Define the term atomic number.
The number of protons in the nucleus is known as the atomic number of the element and is denoted by Z.
Definition: Atomic Number
The atomic number of an atom is equal to the number of protons in its nucleus (which is same as the number of electrons in a neutral atom).
Definition: Mass Number
The mass number of an atom is equal to the total number of nucleons (i.e., the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons) in its nucleus.
Define the term Nucleons.
The nucleus is made up of protons and neutrons, with protons having a positive charge and neutrons being neutral. Nucleons are made up of protons and neutrons.
Definition: Isotopes
The atoms of the same element, having same atomic number Z, but different mass number A, are called isotopes.
OR
Atoms having the same atomic number (Z) but different mass numbers (A).
Definition: Nuclear Energy
The energy released due to loss in mass during the processes of nuclear fission and fusion is called nuclear (or atomic) energy.
OR
The energy released when nuclei undergo a nuclear reaction (change in structure, forming new nuclei) is called nuclear energy.
Define binding energy per nucleon.
Binding energy per nucleon is the least amount of energy required to liberate all of the nucleons from the nucleus.
As a result, the binding energy per nucleon is
`E_B/A`
The half-life of a reaction is the time it takes for a reactant’s concentration to decrease to half of its initial value.
One Becquerel (Bq) is defined as the activity of a quantity of radioactive samples in which one nucleus decays per second. It is the SI unit of the activity.
Definition: Electron
The negatively charged particles discovered by J. J. Thomson are called electrons.
Definition: Thomson’s Atomic Model
The atomic model proposed by J. J. Thomson in which an atom is considered as a uniformly positively charged sphere with electrons embedded in it is called Thomson’s atomic model. Thomson’s atomic model is also called the plum-pudding model.
Definition: Electrically Neutral Atom
An atom having equal total positive and negative charges and therefore having no net charge is called an electrically neutral atom.
Definition: Spectra Series
The groups of spectral lines arranged according to a pattern are called spectral series (such as Lyman series, Balmer series, Paschen series, etc.).
Definition: Stable Orbits
The circular paths in which electrons revolve around the nucleus without emitting radiation are called stable orbits (stationary states).
Definition: Bohr’s Quantization Condition
The condition that the angular momentum of an electron in a stable orbit is an integral multiple of \[\frac {h}{2π}\] is called Bohr’s quantization condition.
Definition: Electronic Transition
The process in which an electron moves from one orbit to another with emission or absorption of a photon is called an electronic transition.
Definition: Principal Quantum Number
The positive integer nnn that determines the orbit of an electron is called the principal quantum number.
Definition: Line Spectrum
The spectrum obtained when a hot gas emits radiation at only certain specific wavelengths is called a line spectrum.
Definition: Emission Lines
The bright lines seen in the spectrum due to emission of radiation at specific wavelengths are called emission lines.
Definition: Bohr Radius
The radius of the first orbit of the hydrogen atom (n = 1) is called the Bohr radius.
Definition: Ground State
The lowest energy state of an atom (n = 1) is called the ground state.
Definition: Excitation Energy
The higher energy states (n > 1) are called excited states. The minimum energy required to raise an electron from the ground state to a higher energy state is called the excitation energy.
Definition: Rydberg Constant
The constant appearing in the spectral formula of hydrogen is called the Rydberg constant.
RH = \[\frac{m_{\mathrm{e}}e^{4}}{8c\varepsilon_{0}h^{3}}=1.097\times10^{7}\mathrm{m}^{-1}\]
Definition: Ionization Energy
The ionisation energy of an atom is the minimum amount of energy required to be given to an electron in the ground state of that atom to set the electron free.
Definition: Nucleons
Protons and neutrons together are called nucleons.
Definition: Isobars
Atoms having the same mass number (A) but different atomic numbers (Z).
Definition: Isotones
Atoms having the same number of neutrons (N) but different atomic numbers (Z).
Definition: Beta Plus (β⁺) Decay
The emission of a positron due to conversion of a proton into a neutron inside the nucleus is called beta plus (β⁺) decay.
\[_Z^AX\to_{Z-1}^AY+e^++\mathrm{neutrino}\]
Definition: Beta Minus (β⁻) Decay
The emission of an electron due to the conversion of a neutron into a proton inside the nucleus is called beta minus (β⁻) decay.
\[{}_Z^AX\to{}_{Z+1}^AY+e^-+\text{antineutrino}\]
Q = [mX − mY − me]c2
Definition: Gamma Decay
The emission of high-energy photons from an excited nucleus without a change in mass number or atomic number is called gamma decay.
\[_Z^AX^*\to_Z^AX+\gamma\]
Definition: Q-value of the Decay
The difference between the mass of the parent atom and the total mass of the decay products, expressed in energy terms, is called the Q-value of the decay.
Definition: Alpha Decay
The emission of an alpha particle (helium nucleus) from a heavy nucleus is called alpha decay.
\[{}_Z^AX\to{}_{Z-2}^{A-4}Y+{}_2^4He\]
Q = [mX − mY − mHe]c2
Definition: Mass Defect
The difference between the total mass of individual nucleons and the actual mass of the nucleus.
ΔM = Zmp + Nmn − M
Definition: Half-Life
The time required for the number of radioactive nuclei to reduce to half of its initial value is called the half-life T1/2.
\[\frac{N_0}{2}=N_0e^{-\lambda T_{1/2}}\]
\[T_{1/2}=\frac{\ln2}{\lambda}=\frac{0.693}{\lambda}\]
Definition: Average Life
The average time for which a radioactive nucleus exists before decay is called the mean (average) life τ.
τ = \[\frac {1}{λ}\]
Definition: Chain Reaction
A self-sustaining sequence of fission reactions in which neutrons produced in one fission cause further fissions is called a chain reaction.
Definition: Nuclear Reactor
A device in which nuclear fission is carried out in a controlled manner to produce energy is called a nuclear reactor.
Definition: Nuclear Fission
The process in which a heavy nucleus splits into two lighter nuclei with the release of energy is called nuclear fission.
Definition: Daughter Nucleus
The nucleus formed after radioactive decay is called the daughter nucleus.
Definition: Parent Nucleus
The original unstable nucleus which undergoes decay is called the parent nucleus.
Definition: Radioactive Decay
The spontaneous transformation of an unstable nucleus into a more stable nucleus by emission of particles or radiation is called radioactive decay.
Definition: Nuclear Force
The force that binds protons and neutrons (nucleons) inside the nucleus is called the nuclear force or strong force.
Definition: Binding Energy
The energy required to completely separate the nucleons of a nucleus and take them to infinity.
Definition: Nuclear Fusion
The process in which two light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus with the release of energy is called nuclear fusion.
Definition: Atom
The smallest indivisible particles of matter proposed by early philosophers are called atoms.
Definition: Nucleus
The central, tiny, positively charged part of an atom that contains almost all of its mass is called the nucleus.
Definition: Radioactive Decay
The spontaneous disintegration of an unstable nucleus accompanied by emission of radiation is called radioactive decay.