15.1 Introduction to Nuclear Chemistry
| VARIOUS PARTICLES / RAYS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Particle/Ray | Symbol | Mass | Charge | |
| Alpha particle |  | 4.00151amu | +2 |  |
| Neutron |  | 1.00866amu | 0 | |
| Proton |  | 1.00728amu | +1 | |
| Beta Particle |  | 0.00015amu | -1 | |
| Positron |  | 0.00015amu | +1 | |
| Gamma Ray |  | 0 | 0 | |
The Nucleus
Nuclear Structure – protons and neutrons
Atomic Number – number of protons or charge
Atomic Weight vs Mass Number
Isotopes – same element but different mass number
Strong Nuclear Force – binds protons and neutrons together
Balancing Nuclear Reactions
The total mass number and atomic number (i.e. charge) must be equal on both sides of the reaction arrow.
