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The prevailing model of atomic structure before Rutherford's experiments was devised by J. J. Thomson. [2]: 123 Thomson had discovered the electron through his work on cathode rays [3] and proposed that they existed within atoms, and an electric current is electrons hopping from one atom to an adjacent one in a series.
Gilbert cloud chamber, assembled An alternative view of kit contents. The lab contained a cloud chamber allowing the viewer to watch alpha particles traveling at 12,000 miles per second (19,000,000 m/s), a spinthariscope showing the results of radioactive disintegration on a fluorescent screen, and an electroscope measuring the radioactivity of different substances in the set.
Radioactive decay is a random process at the level of single atoms. According to quantum theory, it is impossible to predict when a particular atom will decay, regardless of how long the atom has existed. [2] [3] [4] However, for a significant number of identical atoms, the overall decay rate can be expressed as a decay constant or as a half-life.
Nevertheless, when there are many identical atoms decaying (right boxes), the law of large numbers suggests that it is a very good approximation to say that half of the atoms remain after one half-life. Various simple exercises can demonstrate probabilistic decay, for example involving flipping coins or running a statistical computer program ...
N(t) is number of atoms of the parent isotope in the sample at time t (the present), given by N(t) = N 0 e −λt, and λ is the decay constant of the parent isotope, equal to the inverse of the radioactive half-life of the parent isotope [ 19 ] times the natural logarithm of 2.
Atoms can be ionized by bombardment with radiation, but the more usual process of ionization encountered in chemistry is the transfer of electrons between atoms or molecules. This transfer is usually driven by the attaining of stable ("closed shell") electronic configurations. Atoms will gain or lose electrons depending on which action takes ...
GCSE Bitesize was launched in January 1998, covering seven subjects. For each subject, a one- or two-hour long TV programme would be broadcast overnight in the BBC Learning Zone block, and supporting material was available in books and on the BBC website. At the time, only around 9% of UK households had access to the internet at home.
Neutron radiation is a form of ionizing radiation that presents as free neutrons.Typical phenomena are nuclear fission or nuclear fusion causing the release of free neutrons, which then react with nuclei of other atoms to form new nuclides—which, in turn, may trigger further neutron radiation.