Cambridge IGCSE Combined and Co-ordinated Sciences Revision checklists

Chapter P22  Atomic physics

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Negatively charged electrons orbit around the
positively charged nucleus of an atom, held in their
orbits by the electrostatic attraction between them.

The nucleus of an atom is made up of protons and

neutrons.

The nucleus of an atom of element X can be

represented as ZAX, where Z is the proton number and
A is the nucleon number.

Atoms of isotopes of an element have the same

number of protons in their nuclei, but different
numbers of neutrons.

We are constantly exposed to background radiation

from a variety of sources. We are also exposed to
radiation from artificial sources.

Radiation can be detected using photographic film,

Geiger counters and other detectors.

Naturally occurring radioactive substances produce

alpha (α) and beta (β) particles, and gamma (γ) rays
(a form of electromagnetic radiation).

The radioactive decay of a radioisotope may be

represented by a balanced equation. In radioactive
decay, nucleon number and proton number are both
conserved.
The radiations from radioactive substances cause
ionisation in the materials they pass through and so
they are known as ionising radiations.

The half-life of a radioactive substance is the average

time taken for half of the atoms in a sample to decay.

Make sure you can describe how radioactive materials

are handled, used and stored in a safe way.

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