Nuclear Chemistry

Radioactive Decay

The discovery of radiation

In 1896 Henri Becquerel made
an important discovery.

He accidentally had placed a piece of uranium ore on top

of an unexposed photographic plate. Later, when the
plate was developed, the image of the rock was found on
the plate.
Based on further experiments, he concluded that the
plate had been exposed by rays given off by the
uranium.

Madame Curie discovers Radium

and Polonium
Following Becquerels discovery,
Marie Sklodowska Curie and her
husband, Pierre Curie, attempted
to isolate the radioactive
material from the uranium ore.

In doing so they discovered two new elements, Radium and

Polonium, both of which were more radioactive than the
original ore.

Ernest Rutherford
Rutherford investigated this new
property of matter and discovered that,
in the process of emitting radiation,
atoms of one element became atoms of
another element.
Today, we describe the process of an atom of one
element becoming an atom of a different element as
transmutation.

Rutherford discovered the different

types of radiation
Rutherford was the first to identify and name two different
types of radiation given off when an atom of one element
underwent transmutation and became an atom of another
element. The two types of radiation he found were:
The alpha particle ()
The beta particle ()
A third type of radiation that was discovered later is
called:
Gamma radiation ()

The properties of the different types

of radiation
The differences between the
three types of radiation can be
seen by passing them through
an electric field.

Characteristics of an alpha particle

The alpha particle
() is deflected to
some extent toward
the negative plate.
This indicated that it is
positively (+) charged
and has a fairly large
mass.
Today we know that an particle is the same as the
nucleus of a He atom.

Characteristics of a beta particle

The beta particle () is
deflected toward the
positive plate (+). It is
also deflected more than
the particle
This indicates that it is
negatively (-) charged and has a
much smaller mass than the
particle.
Today we know that a particle is the same as an
electron.

Characteristics of gamma radiation

Gamma radiation () is
not deflected toward
either the positive (+) or
negative (-) plate.
This indicates that it has no
charge.
Today we know that gamma rays are a type of
electromagnetic radiation made up of photons
(packets of energy).

Radiation and Table O

The Regents Reference Tables provides us with a
summary of the different types of radiation:

Penetrating power of radiation

The ability of radioactive particles to pass through air and other materials
is inversely related to their mass.
Alpha particles the least penetrating, they travel only a few
centimeters through air. They can be stopped by a single sheet of
paper.
Beta particles more penetrating, they travel several meters through
air. They can be stopped by a sheet of Al or plastic.
Gamma Rays most penetrating, thick sheets of lead or concrete are
required to stop gamma rays.

Diagram showing penetrating ability

www.epa.gov

Where does the radiation come

from?
Rutherford suggested that the radiation resulted from
the breakdown of the nucleus of an atom, resulting in
radiation being given off, and the nucleus of the atom
changing into a new element.
For instance, the fact that U-238 undergoes alpha
decay (emits an particle) can be shown by this
reaction:

Why does the atom break up?

Remember that the
nucleus of the atom is held
together by the strong
nuclear force. This force
is normally strong enough
to hold the protons and
neutrons together.
However, sometimes the force of repulsion due to
the protons having the same charge overcomes the
strong nuclear force and the atom breaks apart.

How does beta decay occur?

Sometimes an atom will emit a particle
when it breaks up.

In beta decay a neutron

apparently spits out
an electron (the
particle) and becomes a
proton.

Balanced nuclear equations

Nuclear reactions can be represented by equations.
These reactions are governed by two laws:
The law of conservation of mass number the sum of the
mass numbers on the reactant sides must be equal to the
sum of the mass numbers on the product side.

This law applies to all nuclear equations!

Balanced nuclear equations

The second law is:
The law of conservation of charge (atomic #) the sum of
the atomic numbers on the reactant sides must be equal to
the sum of the atomic numbers on the product side.

This law applies to all nuclear equations!

Predicting products in alpha decay

The Law of Conservation of Mass Number and the Law of
Conservation of Charge allows us to predict products in a
nuclear reaction.
For instance, suppose we wanted to predict the atom
produced when Radon-222 undergoes alpha decay.

Predicting products
Based on the two laws we can predict:
The mass number of particle X must be 218.

The charge (atomic #) of particle X must be 84.

The symbol of the element can then be

determined from the Periodic Table.

How about beta decay?

It works the same way. Lets look at the beta decay of
Strontium-90.

Remember the sum of the mass numbers and atomic

number on both sides MUST be the same.
So atom X must be:

Using balanced nuclear equations to

identify the type of radioactivity.
Suppose we know that a particular atom undergoes radioactive
decay and we are able to identify the atom that is produced.
For instance, Iodine-131 is known to form Xenon-131 when it
decays. What radioactive particle must it emit?

Using the Laws of Conservation of Mass # and Charge, we can

identify the type of radiation given off.
Particle X must be a particle:

Another type of radioactive decay

Some atoms undergo a decay process that produces a
positron. A positron has the same mass as an electron,
but is positively charged.
Symbols for the positron include:

Positrons are a form of anti-matter. Antimatter is made

up of particles with the same properties as normal
matter, but are opposite in charge.

Positrons are also listed in Table O

Positron Emission
We can use our ability to balance nuclear equations to
predict what will be given off when Potassium-37
undergoes positron emission.

Theres only one atom that will work, and thats

Argon-37.

Your turn!
Using the Laws of Conservation of Mass # and Charge,
write balanced nuclear equations for the following
nuclear reactions:
1. Beta decay of Phosphorus-32
2. Alpha decay of U-238
3. Positron decay of Iron-53
4. Decay of Oxygen-17 into Nitrogen-17
5. Decay of Potassium-42 into Calcium-42
6. Decay of Plutonium-239 into Uranium-235

Half-lifes
The rate at which a particular radioisotope decays is
described by its half-life.
The half-life is defined as the time that it takes for one
half of a sample of a radioactive element to decay into
another element.
The half-life of a radioisotope is dependent only on
what the radioisotope is.

Table N provides us with

a list of various nuclides,
their decay modes, and
their half-lifes.
Using Table N, what is
the decay mode and halflife for Radium-226?

Using Table N
Table N indicates that Radium-226 undergoes alpha decay.
Based on this we can write a balanced nuclear equation to
represent this reaction:

This tells us that for every atom of Radium that

decays an atom of Radon is produced.

Using Half-life
Table N also tells us that Radium-226 has a half-life of 1600
years.
Starting with a 100g
sample, after 1 halflife (or 1600 years),
50g remain.
After another 1600
years, half of the 50g
will remain (25g).

Carbon-14 Dating
The age of objects that were once alive can be determined by
using the C-14 dating test. In this test, scientists determine
how much C-14 is left in a sample and from this determine the
age of the object.
From Table N we can determine that C-14 undergoes
decay:

Where does the Carbon-14 come

from?
C-14 is created in the
atmosphere by cosmic
rays.
It becomes part of living
things through
photosynthesis and the
food chain.
When the plant or animal
dies, the C-14 begins to
decay.

Using C-14 to Age Objects

By comparing the amount of C-14 left in a sample to the amount that was
present when it was alive, and using the half-life of 5700 years (Table N),
one can determine the age of a sample.

Uranium-238 Series
The Uranium-238 Decay Series is used to determine the age of rocks.

In this series, the

ratio of the U-238
to the Pb-206 is
used to determine
the age of the
rock.

Parent-daughter Relationship

Aging moon rocks

NASA astronauts have retrieved 842
pounds (382 kg) of moon rocks (in
many missions), which have been
closely studied. The composition of the
moon rocks is very similar to that of
Earth rocks. Using radioisotope dating,
it has been found that moon rocks are
about 4.3 billion years old.

Sample Half-life Problem 1

A 10 gram of sample of Iodine-131undergoes decay, what will be
the mass of iodine remaining after 24 days?
From Table N, the life of iodine is determined to be
approximately 8 days.
That means that 24 days is equivalent to 3 half-lifes.
The decay of 10 grams of I-131 would produce:

1.25 grams of I-131 would remain after 24 days.

Sample Half-life Problem 2

A sample of a piece of wood is analyzed by C-14 dating. The percent
of C-14 is found to be 25% of what the original C-14 concentration
was. What is the age of the sample?
First, lets analyze how many half-lives have taken place .

Two half-lives have gone by while the sample decayed from the
original C-14 concentration to 25% of that concentration.
Based on Table N, the half-life of C-14 is 5730 years, so

Your turn!
On a sheet of paper, answer the following questions from
your textbook. Indicate how you arrived at your answer
and turn in your work for a homework/quiz grade.
Page 670
Questions 34 (a and b), 36, 37, 38, 41, 42.
Page 671
Questions 50, 58, 59

The End
This is the end of the first slide show on
nuclear reactions. You may continue
learning about nuclear reactions by viewing
the second show:

Nuclear Chemistry:
Fission and Fusion