a. protons and neutrons in the nucleus are held together by strong nuclear forces which are stronger than the electromagnetic repulsion between the protons.
b. the energy release per gram of material is much larger in nuclear fusion or fission reactions than in chemical reactions: change in mass (calculated by E=mc_) is small but significant in nuclear reactions.
c. many naturally occurring isotopes of elements are radioactive, as are isotopes formed in nuclear reactions.
d. the three most common forms of radioactive decay (alpha, beta, gamma) and how the nucleus changes in each type of decay.
e. alpha, beta, and gamma radiation produce different amounts and kinds of damage in matter and have different penetrations.
f.* how to calculate the amount of a radioactive substance remaining after an integral number of half lives have passed.
g.* protons and neutrons have substructure and consist of particles called quarks.