Term: hot atom https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.H02861 Definition: An atom in an excited energy state or having kinetic energy above the ambient thermal level, usually as a result of nuclear processes. Related Terms: 1) kinetic energy (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.K03402). Source: PAC, 1994, 66, 2513. 'Nomenclature for radioanalytical chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 2520 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466122513) Citation: 'hot atom' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.H02861 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.