Nuclide: meaning, definitions and examples
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nuclide
[ ˈnjuːklaɪd ]
nuclear physics
A nuclide is a distinct species of atomic nucleus characterized by the number of protons and neutrons it contains. It can be stable or unstable, the latter leading to radioactive decay. Nuclides are often represented in notation, denoting their atomic mass and atomic number, providing information about their isotopic composition.
Synonyms
atomic species, isotope, nuclear species
Examples of usage
- Carbon-14 is a well-known nuclide used in dating archaeological samples.
- The study of different nuclides helps in understanding nuclear reactions.
- Some nuclides have applications in medicine, particularly in cancer treatment.
- Uranium-238 is a common nuclide found in nature.
- The properties of various nuclides can be analyzed using mass spectrometry.
Translations
Translations of the word "nuclide" in other languages:
🇵🇹 nuclídeo
🇮🇳 न्यूक्लाइड
🇩🇪 Nuklid
🇮🇩 nuklid
🇺🇦 нуклід
🇵🇱 nuklid
🇯🇵 ヌクライド
🇫🇷 nuclide
🇪🇸 nuclido
🇹🇷 nükloid
🇰🇷 동위 원소
🇸🇦 نظير
🇨🇿 nuklid
🇸🇰 nuklid
🇨🇳 核素
🇸🇮 nuklid
🇮🇸 kjarnaefni
🇰🇿 нуклид
🇬🇪 ნუკლიდი
🇦🇿 nuklid
🇲🇽 nuclido
Etymology
The term 'nuclide' was first introduced in the early 20th century, deriving from the Latin word 'nucleus,' meaning 'kernel' or 'core,' which reflects the central part of an atom. The suffix '-ide' is often used in chemistry to denote substances related to particular elements or compounds. As scientists explored atomic theory and nuclear physics, particularly throughout the development of quantum mechanics, the understanding of atomic structure became more sophisticated, leading to the necessity of distinguishing between different forms of atomic nuclei. The concept of nuclides, encompassing both isotopes of an element and entirely different elements with varying proton and neutron counts, became pivotal in the advancement of both theoretical and applied physics, particularly in nuclear energy, medicine, and various research fields. Over the decades, the classification and study of nuclides have been fundamental to advancements in our understanding of atomic interactions and stability.