Radioactivity

Why are atoms radioactive?

How do these atoms become stable?
What happens to the atom after it
decays?
 Radiation vs. Radioactivity
Radiation energy traveling through space

Radioactivity- the property of certain

unstable nuclides of spontaneously
emitting radiation in order to form
more stable species.
 Types of Radiation
Ionizing radiation produces electrically
charged particles called ions.
X-rays
Gamma rays
Cosmic rays
Nuclear radiation
alpha
beta
 Types of radiation
Non-ionizing
UV A
Visible light
Infrared
Microwave
Radio waves
 Atomic structure

Nucleus consist of protons and neutrons

Atomic number (Z) = no. of protons=no. of e
Mass Number (A) = no. of protons + no of
neutrons
Types of Nuclear Radiation

Alpha () particle

Helium nucleus ( 2 neutrons and 2 protons)

Massive
Slow-moving (0.10c)
 Alpha decay

231
235
92 U 90 X

231 4
235
92 U Th
90 2 He
 Types of Nuclear Radiation
Beta () particle

Electrons (negative) or positive electrons

(positrons)
Small mass
Fast (0.90c)
 Beta decay

238
92 U 238
93 Np 0
-1 e
In - decay [ n p + e ]

40
19 K 40
20 Ca 0
-1 e
 Beta decay

In + decay [p n + e+ ]

13 0
13
7 N 6 C 1 e

Artificially-produced
Types of Nuclear Radiation
Gamma () rays

Photons of very short wavelength

No charge or mass
Moves at speed of light
 Gamma decay
Does not change A or Z
Accompanies
Alpha decay
206 4
210
84 Po 82 Pb 2 He
- Bet decay
Sources of Background
Radiation
 Nuclear equations must be balanced
just like regular chemical equations.
To balance nuclear equations, follow these
two rules:
1. Mass number is conserved in a
nuclear change.
The sum of the mass numbers before the
change must equal the sum of the mass
numbers after the change.
2. Electric charge is conserved in a
nuclear change.
The total electric charge on subatomic
particles and nuclei before and after the
change must be equal.
 APPLICATION:
Complete and balance the following
equations:
243
238
U ____
Th 4
1.

92 90 2 He
222
Rn
____
86 218
84 Po 4
2 He
97
Zr 97
Nb e 0
______
1
40 41
 APPLICATION

0
14
6 C X -1 e
14 0
14
6 C 7 N -1 e
Stable or
Unstable?
 STABLE OR UNSTABLE?
THE ODD-EVEN RULE
In the odd-even rule, when the numbers of
neutrons and protons in the nucleus are both
even numbers, the isotopes tend to be far more
stable than when they are both odd. Out of all
the 264 stable isotopes, only 5 have both odd
numbers of both, whereas 157 have even
numbers of both, and the rest have a mixed
number. This has to do with the spins of
nucleons.
 STABLE OR UNSTABLE?
THE MAGIC NUMBERS
Another rule of nuclear stability is that
isotopes with certain numbers of protons or
neutrons tend to be more stable than the rest.
These certain numbers are called the magic
numbers, 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, and 126. When a
nucleus has a number of protons and neutrons
that are the same magic number, it is very
stable. For example: 42He, 168O, and 4020Ca.
One stable isotope of lead, 20882Pb, has 82
protons and 126 neutrons.
 APPLICATION

235 223
92 U 88 Ra

128
12
6 C 53 I
 APPLICATION
You were given three radioactive
cookies, one of each kind. You are
allowed to eat one, hold one and place
one in your pocket. Which cookie
should be placed where in order for you
to receive the least radiation?
THE END