Ch.

6 Models of Atoms
6B Nuclear Chemistry (Mass number, Atomic number & Atomic Mass)

Atomic Mass
Two heaviest particles in the atom are the proton and the neutron
Proton = 1 AMU (atomic mass unit) 1,836 times more massive than an electron Neutron = fractionally larger than 1 AMU Electron weight is considered negligible

Atomic mass adding the number of all the particles in the nucleus will provide the approximate mass for any atom

Atomic Number
Elements are determined by the number of protons they have Atomic number is the amount of protons Atomic number is like an ID number What is the atomic number for gold? ____ What is the atomic number for helium? ____ What is the atomic number for iron? ____

Mass Number
Simply the number of particles in the nucleus It has no units or decimals Isotopes atoms with different numbers of neutrons than protons
Most naturally occurring atoms are found in groups of several isotopic forms An elements isotopes will have the same atomic number but differing mass numbers due to the differing numbers of neutrons

Below is the shorthand form of expressing an elements symbol, mass number and atomic number.

(Mass Number) ___ (Atomic number) ___

Mz

Nuclear Radiation
The study of reactions involving atomic nuclei is nuclear chemistry In 1896, Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity the emission of high-energy rays and particles from a nucleus Elements over #84 are radioactive Three Types of Radiation
Alpha helium nucleus with low penetration Beta single electron with medium penetration Gamma electromagnetic radiation waves with high penetration

Nuclear Decay
When nucleus has too much energy it releases it by emitting gamma rays One meter of concrete or two inches of lead is needed to stop gamma rays Gamma rays can cause significant changes in material such as living tissue

 Three Forms of Nuclear Decay

Alpha decay
Releases an alpha particle (two protons and two neutrons) thus changing the elements atomic number Becomes a helium atom when it obtains two electrons Weak enough to be stopped by a sheet of newspaper

Beta decay
A neutron decomposes into a proton and electron The proton stays increasing the atomic number by 1 The electron escapes Stopped by wood or aluminum foil

Nuclear Bombardment Reactions

Occurs when a nucleus is struck with a high speed atomic particle or other nuclei Bombardment reactions release enormous amounts of energy or form new elements Occurs only in special nuclear reactors or particle accelerators

 Fission
Occurs when a nucleus is split into smaller, more stable nuclei thereby releasing energy Chain reaction more neutrons are released with each split atom thereby striking more atoms

Fusion
Joins small nuclei into larger ones Releases even more energy than fission The sun and stars operate via fusion Very difficult to create fusion energy

E = mc2
E = energy m = mass c = speed of light Speed of light = 300,000,000 m/s Therefore, 1 gram of matter could be converted into enough energy to lift 1,600,000 kg