Nuclear Chemistry

Radiation Fission vs Fusion Half-Life

Essential Question
What effect do nuclear reactions have on human life?

Focus Question
What happens if an atom is unstable?

Radioactivity
In these chemical reactions the atoms tend to gain more stable electron configurations. Nuclear reactions, in the nuclei of unstable isotopes, gain stability by undergoing changes. These changes are always accompanied by the emission of large amounts of energy.

Nuclear Reactions
In a nuclear reaction matter can be created or destroyed. They are not affected by temperature, pressure or catalysts, and they cannot be sped up, slowed down, or turned off.

Radioactive Decay
Three common types of radioactive decay
Type Alpha Particle
4 2 He

Relative Size Large

Relative energy

Low

Beta Gamma

0 -1 e-

Effectively None

Medium
High

Not a Particle

Discovery of Radioactivity
In 1896, Antoine Henri Becquerel, noticed that photographic film would fog when it was exposed to Uranium salts. He had two assistants, Marie Curie and Pierre Curie, were able to show that the fogging was caused by rays emitted from the Uranium atoms in the ore. Marie Curie named the process by which materials give off such rays Radioactivity. The rays and particles that are given off are called radiation. This discovery tore apart Daltons theory of an indivisible atom.

Types of Radiation
We are going to be studying three types of radiation.

Alpha Beta Gamma

() (Positive) () (Negative) () (No charge)

Alpha Particles
Alpha radiation consists of helium nuclei that have been emitted from a radioactive source. These emitted particles, alpha particles, contain two protons and two neutrons, and have a 2+ charge. However, when writing a nuclear reaction, the electric charge is generally omitted. Alpha particles are either written as

4 He 2

or

Nuclear reactions: decay

226

Ra 22286Rn + 42He () 88

Beta Particles
Beta radiation consists of fast moving electrons formed from the decomposition of a neutron in an atom. The neutron (no charge) decomposes into a proton, which remains in the nucleus, and an electron, which is released. 10n 11H + 0-1e (beta particle) The fact that the particle is negatively charged is reflected in the subscript 1, where the atomic number is generally written. The virtual lack of mass is expressed in the superscript 0, corresponding to the mass number.

Nuclear reactions: decay

137 Cs 55

(Carbon-14 is radioactive)

137 Ba 56

0 e -1

Gamma Radiation
Gamma radiation is high energy electromagnetic radiation given off by radioisotopes. Visible light is also part of the electromagnetic spectrum, but much lower in energy. Gamma rays are often emitted along with alpha or beta radiation by the nuclei of disintegrating radioactive atoms. Gamma rays have no mass or electrical charge, therefore, the emission of gamma radiation does not alter the atomic number or mass number of an atom.

Gamma Radiation

Each type of radiation can travel different distances and through different materials.

Alpha particles Do not travel very far, they are easily stopped by a piece of paper or the surface of your skin so they are usually not harmful. However, they can be very dangerous if ingested. Beta particles Since they are smaller than alpha particles, are able to travel further. They can be stopped by aluminum foil or a thin piece of wood. Gamma radiation Is very similar to an x-ray. They are extremely penetrating and potentially dangerous. They can easily penetrate through paper, wood, and the human body. They can, however, be stopped by several meters of concrete or several cm of lead.