TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

UNSTABLE ATOM [5 records]

Record 1 2011-12-14

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atomic Physics
CONT

Having an open shell means that one or more electrons in the outer shell of the element is(are) available to react with an external atom or molecule to establish a chemical bond and is therefore unstable. When a reaction fills an open shell or removes all of its valence electrons, it releases energy and the resulting product is at a lower energy level and more stable.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Physique atomique

Spanish

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Record 2 - external organization data 2010-02-23

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atomic Physics
  • Compartment - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
CONT

Most ionizing radiation results when the structure of an atom's electrons, neutrons and protons breaks down. This can happen when some form of ionizing radiation collides with a normal atom, or when an unstable atom(called a radioisotope) decays or breaks down on its own.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Physique atomique
  • Tiroir - Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire
CONT

La plupart des rayonnements ionisants sont émis lorsque la structure des électrons, des neutrons et des protons d'un atome se fractionne. Cela peut se produire lorsque certains rayonnements ionisants se heurtent à un atome normal ou lorsqu'un atome instable, appelé «radio-isotope», se désintègre ou se fractionne de lui-même.

Spanish

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Record 3 - external organization data 2007-11-08

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atomic Physics
  • Compartment - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
CONT

This can happen from an atomic collision or when an unstable atom(called a radioisotope) decays or breaks down on its own.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Physique atomique
  • Tiroir - Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire
CONT

Le rayonnement ionisant peut se produire lors d'une collision d'atomes, ou lorsqu'un atome instable (appelé radioisotope) se désintègre ou se divise en fragments.

Spanish

Save record 3

Record 4 2003-11-21

English

Subject field(s)
  • Geochemistry
  • Chronology
DEF

Applied to certain unstable atoms, the nuclei of which spontaneously disintegrate emitting particles and rays, eventually reverting through a series of such emissions into an atom having a stable nucleus and a different atomic number.

CONT

Radioactive elements include radium, uranium, and a number of newly discovered, short-lived elements (as californium, berkelium, etc.).

French

Domaine(s)
  • Géochimie
  • Chronologie
CONT

Beaucoup [de] roches contiennent d'infimes quantités des éléments dits radioactifs (uranium et thorium) qui, on le sait, sont instables et se désintègrent lentement selon un processus qui, au bout de milliards d'années, donne un produit final analogue au plomb ordinaire.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Geoquímica
  • Cronología
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Record 5 1988-05-13

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atomic Physics
CONT

When a certain amount of energy is applied to an atom, the energy level can be raised through absorption of energy. During this absorption of energy, an atom enters what is called an unstable, excited level.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Physique atomique
CONT

Lorsqu'une certaine quantité d'énergie est appliquée à l'atome, le niveau d'énergie peut être élevé par une absorption d'énergie. Au cours de cette absorption d'énergie, l'atome atteint un niveau dit instable, c'est le niveau excité.

Spanish

Save record 5

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