Chapter 5 : Radioactivity 5.

1 Nucleus of an Atom Composition of the nucleus

Protons, neutrons and electrons : Particle Notation Mass Charge / C Relative mass of particle 1 1

Proton Neutron Electron

1.67 x 10-27 kg 1.67 x 10-27 kg 9.11 x 10-31 kg

+ 1.6 x 10-19 0 - 1.6 x 10-19

Isotopes - Isotopes of an element are atoms which have the same number of protons but different number of neutrons (same proton number Z but a different nucleon number A) Element Isotope Hydrogen, Deuterium, Number of protons 1 1 1 6 6 6 92 92 92 Number of neutrons 0 1 1 6 7 8 142 143 146

Proton number and Nucleon number N = proton number A = nucleon number Nuclide notation - Nuclide is the nucleus of an atom with a particular number of protons and neutrons - Examples : lithium-6, carbon-12

Hydrogen

Tritium,
Carbon Carbon-12, Carbon-13,

Carbon-a4,
Uranium Uranium-234, Uranium-235,

Uranium-238,

5.2 Radioactive Decay Radioactivity The spontaneous disintegration of the nucleus of an unstable atom accompanied by radioactive emission Three types of radioactive emission : (a) Alpha () particles (b) Beta () particles (c) Gamma () rays The nucleus of an unstable atoms can emit one or more types of radioactive emissions Radioactive elements will continue to emit radioactive emissions until its atoms become stable : Radioactive element Radon Radium Actinium Thorium Uranium Detectors for Radioactive Emissions Photographic detectors Nuclide notation A 222 226 228 232 238 Z 86 88 89 90 92

Geiger-Muller tube (G-M tube)

Diffusion cloud chamber

Spark counter

Characteristics of Radioactive Emissions Type of emission Nature Helium nucleus High energy electron negative low Weak medium Several centimetres Great High frequency electromagnetic radiation None Zero Medium Very strong Few hundred metres none

Charge Mass Ionising effect Penetrating power Range in air Gold leaf electroscope Deflection in electric /magnetic field

positive High Strong weak Few centimetres slight

Radioactive Decay Detectors Photographic plates Geiger-Muller tube Diffusion cloud chamber Spark counter Gold leaf electroscope Radioactive emissions detected , , , , , The process in which unstable nuclei emit -particles, -particles and rays in order to form stable nuclei Occurs spontaneously and randomly Changes the number of protons and neutrons in the nuclide Parent nuclide = the nuclide which decays Daughter nuclide = the result of the decay

Alpha decay

Examples : (a) (b) (c) Beta decay During beta decay, a neutron changes to a proton and an electron

Radioactive series

+ + +

The full decay of an unstable atom to form a stable atom

+
Examples: (a) (b) (c)

+ + +

Gamma emission When an unstable atom decays through the emission of or particles, the atom is sometimes left with excess energy. This excess energy is emitted as frequency electromagnetic waves ( rays)

Examples : (a) (b)

Q1 : The nuclide thorium-232 (proton number 90) decays by emitting alpha particle. Write down the equation for the decay process and the daughter nuclide formed is radium

+ +

+ +

Q2 : When decays to , several particles and particles are emitted. Find the numbers of and particles emitted.

Q4 : A radioactive substance has an initial activity of 960 counts per second. What is the half life of the substance if its activity becomes 120 counts per second after 168 s?

Half life The half life of a radioactive nuclide is the time taken for half of the nuclei present in any given sample to decay or change into a new nuclide Half life 4500 million years 5730 years 1620 years 5.3 years 15 days 8 days 15 hours 6 hours 56 seconds 0.164 seconds Q5 : A sample of iodine-131 has a half-life of 8 days and an initial activity of 800 counts per second. What is the activity of iodine-131 after 16 days?

Radioactive nuclei Uranium-238 Carbon-14 Radium-226 Cobalt-60 Phosphorus-32 Iodine-131 Sodium-24 Technetium-99 Radon-220 Polonium-214

Q6 : Phosphorus-32 has a half life of 15 days. How long does it take for 75% of the phosphorus atoms to decay.

Q3 : Sodium-24 has a half life of 15 hours. The original mass of the sample containing sodium-24 is 64 g. (a) What is the mass of the sodium-24 in the sample after 45 hours (b) What is the total mass of the remaining sodium-24 and the decayed product after the decay

5.3 Uses of Radioisotopes Radioisotopes are isotopes that are not stable and go through radioactive decay Radioisotopes in Medicine 1. As a tracer Sodium-25 :locate blood clots Phosphorus-32 : to detect suspected brain tumour Iodine-131 : to study its uptake by the thyroid gland 5

2. 3.

Radiotherapy Cobalt-60 : to kill cancer cells Sterilisation Cobalt-60 : to sterilise medical equipment

5.4 Nuclear Energy Atomic mass unit (a.m.u) The mass of an atom is measured in a unit called the atomic mass unit The a.m.u is defined as one twelve of the mass of a carbon-12 atom 1 a.m.u = = x mass of one carbon-12 atom x 1.993 x 10-26 kg

Radioisotopes in Agriculture 1. 2. 3. 4. As a tracer Phosphorus-32 : to study the uptake of fertiliser by plant As a preservation agent As a mutating gene As a sterilising agent

= 1.66 x 10-27 kg Nuclear Fission A process where the nucleus of a heavy atom is split into two due to the bombardment by a slow moving neutron

Radioisotopes in Archaeology Carbon dating : to determine the age of ancient remains (Carbon-14) Radioisotopes in Industries 1. 2. 3. Thickness control Strontium-90 Examine the contents of canned substances Tracking leakages in pipes Sodium-24 (dissolved in water)

+ energy

Q7 : The activity of a gram of carbon-14 in living plants is 16 counts per minute. If the activity of a gram of carbon-14 in an ancient plant obtained from an archaeological site is 4 counts per minute, what is the estimated age of the ancient plant (Half life of carbon -14 = 5730 years)

Chain Reaction

Nuclear Fusion The process where two light nuclei are united into a heavier nucleus with the release of an enormous amount of energy

Q8 : Radium-226 decays to form radon-222 with the emission of an alpha particle. The decay can be represented by the equation shown below

+ energy

+ energy

Calculate : (a) The loss in mass in kg (b) The energy released in J (c) The energy released in electronvolt [mass of a radium nucleus = 226.05236 a.m.u, mass of radon nucleus = 222.01752 a.m.u, mass of a Helium nucleus = 4.00260 a.m.u, 1 a.m.u = 1.66 x 10-27 kg, c = 3.0 x 108 m s-1 and 1 eV = 1.60 x 10-19 J ] Q9 : The fission process involving uranium-235 can be written as follows

+ energy

Calculate : (a) The loss in mass in kg (b) The energy released in electronvolt [mass of a uranium nucleus = 235.04 a.m.u, mass of a barium nucleus= 140.91 a.m.u, mass of a krypton nucleus = 91.91 a.m.u, mass of a neutron = 1.01 a.m.u, 1 a.m.u = 1.66 x 10-27 kg, c = 3.0 x 108 m s-1 and 1 eV = 1.60 x 10-19 J ] Release of Energy in Nuclear Reactions

E = mc2
E = energy released in joules m = mass defect in kg c = speed of light in metres per second The energy released is known as nuclear energy Nuclear energy can also be measured in electronvolt (eV) : energy required by an electron (or a proton) by moving through a potential difference 1 volt 1 eV = 1.60 x 10-19 J 7