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Fragments of atoms may be described as subatomic particles, or they may be described by using fission fragments as a descriptive term. By looking at both instances, we might be able to see how they apply.
Probably the most familiar to us of the particles that "fragment" off or or out of atoms are are the products of radioactive decay of some unstable atoms. These include the alpha particle, the beta particle (which could be either an electron or a positron) and the neutron. We know that the alpha particle is composed of a pair or protons and a pair of neutrons. It's really a helium-4 nucleus, but it does qualify as a fragment of an atomic nucleus. The electron and the positron are emitted from unstable nuclei in beta minus and beta plus decay events, respectively. Neither particle exists in the nucleus of the atom, but is created during beta nuclear decay. Additionally, the positron is an anti-electron, so it does not constitute an atomic fragment (except perhaps in an antimatter universe). Lastly, the neutron can be seen emerging from an event called spontaneous fission, and we'll cover that (spontaneous fission) separately. Additionally, though the proton and neutron are actually composite particles, we'll not break them down here.
In spontaneous fission, a very heavy (and unstable) nucleus spontaneously "splits" or fissions. There are a handful of radionuclides that do this, but the most commonly known ones are uranium and plutonium. We know these two elements from ideas we've been exposed to concerning nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. In spontaneous fission, the unstable nucleus of a given atom just "splits" and breaks approximately in half. A pair of fission fragments (that's what they're actually called) will appear, and they'll be leaving the event with tremendous kinetic energy. We'll also see one or more neutrons appear as well. This is the basis for the beginning of a nuclear chain reaction, by the way. These ideas pretty much cover what we might call the "fragments of atoms" as they appear when something happens to an atomic nucleus. (If you're looking for the "building blocks of atoms, they'd be the protons, neutrons and electrons, and you'll find a number of different questions dealing with those ideas within WikiAnswers.
Some "hard core" physics types might try to convince us that neutron emission and proton emission are possible. They'd be correct. But we usually skip them because we only see neutron emission from the a handful of radionuclides, and they all short-lived and artificially created in the physics lab. Proton emission (and the rare double proton emission) are again products of a handful of extremely short-lived radionuclides, and they, too, are artificially created in the physics lab. Links can be found below to related questions on WikiAnswers that might allow the curious investigator to delve further into the world of radioactivity and nuclear physics. Anyone wishing to advance his knowledge must start somewhere, so why not there?
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Why do crystalline solids shatter into regularly shaped fragments when broken?
Crystalline solids have an ordered arrangement of atoms that cause fractures to propagate along specific planes. When a force is applied, the atoms are displaced from their equilibrium positions, causing them to break along these planes, resulting in regularly shaped fragments.
What are diamond fragments called?
Diamond fragments are typically referred to as diamond dust or diamond powder. These tiny particles are commonly used in polishing, cutting, and grinding applications in various industries, such as jewelry making or industrial manufacturing.
Multiple atoms linked together are collectively called?
two or more atoms put together is called a molecule.
A matter is made up of tiny particles called?
Atoms which can be further classified as protons, electrons and neutrons.
What are atoms involved in covalent bonding called ions anions cations or molecules?
Atoms involved in covalent bonding are just called atoms. Molecules are composed of covalently bonded atoms.
What is a mixture of electrified fragments of atoms called?
fragments of atoms are the subatomic particles. the charged sub atomic particles are electrons and protons
How do you make a substance without atoms?
At a sufficiently high temperature you get a substance called plasma which contains no atoms; it consists of fragments of atoms.
What are DNA fragments that have attached RNA fragments called?
Okazaki fragments.
What are called fragments?
When diamonds are cut and polished, the fragments can be called chips or dust, depending on their size.
What are the fragments making up the noncontinuous strand called?
The fragments making up the noncontinuous strand in DNA replication are called Okazaki fragments. These are short DNA fragments that are synthesized discontinuously on the lagging strand during DNA replication.
What the movement of fragments of rock?
The movement of rock fragments is called erosion.
What something is made of?
atoms? fragments? i have no idea and thats why im looking this up
Platelets are fragments of which cells?
Platelets are fragments of bizarre multinucleate cells called megakaryocytes
What are pieces of DNA called?
Fragments
The collision and joining of crustal fragments to a continent is called continental what?
The collision and joining of crustal fragments to a continent is called continental accretion.
What are small fragments of plates called?
Small fragments of plates are called platelets. These platelets play an important role in blood clotting.
What is the process of adding fragments of DNA to other DNA called?
The process of adding fragments of DNA to other DNA is called DNA ligation. This involves joining together two DNA fragments using an enzyme called DNA ligase, which helps to form a covalent bond between the DNA fragments.
