nuclides
Nuclear species identified
Nuclides are distinct atomic species characterized by their number of protons and neutrons.
While element refers only to proton count, nuclide specifies the exact nuclear composition—so carbon-12 and carbon-14 are the same element but different nuclides.
The term appears in nuclear physics and chemistry: The chart of nuclides shows all known isotopes.
Unstable nuclides are radioactive.
Atomic number twins
- nucleonsProtons or neutrons
- mass numberProtons and neutrons combined
- atomic massWeighted average of isotopes
- isobaricHaving uniform pressure
isotonic · magic numbers · atomic number · drip line · island of stability · superheavy elements · transuranium · actinides
Gradual organic breakdown
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- radionuclidesAtoms with unstable nuclei
- alpha decayEmission of helium nuclei
- beta decayRadioactive nucleon transformation process
gamma radiation · transmutation · radioactivity · ionizing · activity · curie · specific activity · primordial
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- fusionJoining into unity
- reactorControlled fission apparatus
- uranium-235Fissile nuclear isotope
- plutonium-239Fissile actinide isotope
enrichment · criticality · chain reaction · breeder reactor · spent fuel · reprocessing · transmutation · nucleosynthesis
Stable carbon isotope
Medicinal radioactive substances
- technetium-99mMetastable medical radioisotope
- iodine-131Radioactive halogen isotope
- cobalt-60Radioactive isotope for therapy
- radiotherapyMedical radiation for cancer
tracers · carbon-14 dating · radiocarbon · geochronology · potassium-argon · irradiation · smoke detectors
isotopes
Atomic number twins
- nucleonsProtons or neutrons
- mass numberProtons and neutrons combined
- atomic massWeighted average of isotopes
isobaric · isotonic · magic numbers · atomic number · drip line · island of stability · superheavy elements · transuranium · actinides · lanthanides
decay
Gradual organic breakdown
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- radionuclidesAtoms with unstable nuclei
- alpha decayEmission of helium nuclei
beta decay · gamma radiation · transmutation · radioactivity · ionizing · activity · curie · specific activity · primordial · radiogenic
fission
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- fusionJoining into unity
- reactorControlled fission apparatus
- uranium-235Fissile nuclear isotope
plutonium-239 · enrichment · criticality · chain reaction · breeder reactor · spent fuel · reprocessing · transmutation · nucleosynthesis · transuranic
carbon-12
Stable carbon isotope
radiopharmaceuticals
Medicinal radioactive substances
- technetium-99mMetastable medical radioisotope
- iodine-131Radioactive halogen isotope
- cobalt-60Radioactive isotope for therapy
radiotherapy · tracers · carbon-14 dating · radiocarbon · geochronology · potassium-argon · irradiation · smoke detectors