Each atom contains a nucleus about 100,000 times smaller than the atom. The nuclear charge determines the number of electrons in the neutral atom and hence its chemical properties. The nuclear mass determines the mass of the atom. For a given nuclear charge there can be a number of nuclei with different masses or isotopes. If an isotope is unstable, it transforms into another nucleus through radioactive decay.
CITATION STYLE
Hobbie, R. K., & Roth, B. J. (2007). Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Medicine. In Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology (pp. 481–513). Springer New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-49885-0_17
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