The Nucleus and Radioactivity Radioactive Decay: Emission of radiation produced by unstable

nuclei changing to a more stable state

Radioactivity: Spontaneous changes in the nucleus that emit
energy as radiation (particles or rays) Types of Radiation Include:

Nuclei contain protons and neutrons; some combinations of these •Alpha rays α: positive charge
particles are unstable
•Beta rays β: negative charge
Examples of Radioactive Nuclei Include:
•Gamma rays γ: no charge
•Uranium, Plutonium
α and β rays consist of streams of particles
•Hydrogen-3
•Potassium-38 γ rays consist of electromagnetic radiation

α particle: γ Ray:

•contains 2 protons and 2 neutrons •High-energy ray similar to an X ray

•identical to helium nucleus •Travel great distances

•travel only short distances Daughter Nuclei: New nuclei that result from unstable
nuclei undergoing radioactive decay
β particle:
Example: Uranium-238 gives up an α particle, resulting in a
•electrons produced in the nucleus, then emitted daughter nucleus of a different element, Thorium (Th)

•travel greater distances than α particles

Summary of Radiation Types Alpha Decay

• When a radioactive nucleus emits an alpha

particle, a new nucleus results.

• The mass number of the new nucleus is 4 less

than that of the initial nucleus.

• The atomic number is decreased by 2.

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 ƒ In a balanced nuclear equation, the sum of the
mass numbers and the sum of the atomic
numbers for the nuclei of the reactant and the
products must be equal.

251Cf 247Cm + 4He

98 96 2

Write an equation for the alpha decay of Rn-222. Beta Decay

222Rn new nucleus + 4He ƒ The unstable nucleus converts a neutron into a
86 2 proton (emitting an electron from the nucleus)

Mass number: 222 – 4 = 218 ƒ The mass number of the new nucleus remains the
same
Atomic number: 86 – 2 = 84
ƒ The atomic number of the new nucleus increases by
Symbol of element 84 = Po 1
222Rn 218Po + 4He 1n 0e + 1H
86 84 2 0 -1 1

Example: Potassium - 42 is a beta emitter.

42K new nucleus + 0e

19 -1

Mass number : (same) = 42

Atomic number: 19 + 1 = 20

Symbol of element 20 = Ca

42K 42Ca + 0e
19 20 -1

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 Learning Check Solution

Write the nuclear equation for the Write the nuclear equation for the beta
beta decay of Co-60. decay of Co-60.

60Co 60Co 60Ni + 0e

27 27 28 −1

Gamma γ Radiation Summary of Radiation

• Gamma radiation is energy emitted from an

unstable nucleus indicated by m.

• In a nuclear equation for gamma emission, the

mass number and the atomic number are the
same.

99mTc 99Tc + γ
43 43

Some radioactive isotopes are more stable than others, and therefore Radioactive Decay Over Time
decay more slowly

Half-Life: Time required for half of the unstable nuclei in a sample

to decay

Example: A Potassium-38 sample weighs 100 grams. 8 minutes

later, the sample is weighed again and found to weigh 50 g. The
half-life of potassium-38 is 8 minutes

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 Half-Lives Vary Dramatically Between Elements
Half-Life Calculations

After one half-life, 40 mg of a radioisotope will

decay to 20 mg. After two half-lives, 10 mg of
radioisotope remain.

40 mg x 1 x 1 = 10 mg
2 2
Initial
40 mg
1 half-life 2 half-lives
20 mg
10 mg

Learning Check Solution

Half life = 13 hrs
The half life of I-123 is 13 hr. How Number of half lives = 2
much of a 64 mg sample of I-123 is
Amount remaining = 64 mg x 1 x 1 = 16 mg
left after 26 hours?
2 2
13 hrs 13 hrs
64 mg 32 mg 16 mg

Uses of Radioisotopes
Radiation and Health
•Medical: diagnosing and disease (cancer, thyroid, brain scans)
Free Radicals: Very reactive compounds that can cause
mutations, cancer; usually caused by long-term exposure to low-
level radiation

Radiation Sickness: Illness and symptoms caused by short-

term exposure to intense radiation

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 Imaging Techniques Using Radioisotopes
•Health/Agriculture: food irradiation
PET Scans (Positron Emission Tomography):
gamma rays create a 3D image of organs, used to
•Radioactive dating: determine age of fossils
analyze blood flow, metabolic activity and brain function

CT (Computed Tomography): X-rays are used to

create series of images of the brain, identifying brain
damage and hemorrhaging

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): H protons in

magnetic field are used to create color images of soft
tissue

• Nuclear Power Plants: Alternative energy source Units of Radiation

Curie (Ci): number of disintegrations per second per
gram of radium; 3.7 x 1010 disintegrations per second

Rad (Radiation Absorbed Dose): amount of material

able to deliver 2.4x10-3 cal of energy to 1 kg of tissue

Rem (Radiation Equivalent in humans): amount of

biological damage caused by different types of radiation

In 1934 Radioactivity was Artificially Induced for the

first time!!
High-energy particles (such as neutrons) can create
unstable nuclei that then undergo radioactive decay
(Cyclotrons and Linear Accelerators)

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Nuclear Fission: Process in which large nuclei split Chain Reaction: Nuclear reaction in which the
into smaller nuclei when bombarded with neutrons, products of a reaction cause that reaction to occur
releasing large amounts of energy repeatedly

Example: When a neutron bombards U-235, an

Nuclear Fusion: Process in which small nuclei
unstable nucleus of U-236 forms smaller nuclei such
combine (fuse) to form larger nuclei
as Kr-91 and Ba-142.

Example: Hydrogen nuclei combine to form Helium

nuclei