NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY

Unit 16

Introduction to Nuclear Chemistry

Nuclear chemistry is the study of the structure of atomic nuclei and the changes they undergo.

Chemical vs. Nuclear Reactions

Chemical Reactions Nuclear Reactions

Occur when bonds Occur when nuclei are broken emit particles and/or rays

Chemical vs. Nuclear Reactions

Chemical Reactions Occur when bonds are broken Nuclear Reactions Occur when nuclei emit particles and/or rays

Atoms remain unchanged, although they may be rearranged

Atoms often converted into atoms of another element

Chemical vs. Nuclear Reactions

Chemical Reactions Occur when bonds are broken Atoms remain unchanged, although they may be rearranged Nuclear Reactions Occur when nuclei emit particles and/or rays Atoms often converted into atoms of another element

Involve only valence electrons

May involve protons, neutrons, and electrons

Chemical vs. Nuclear Reactions

Chemical Reactions Occur when bonds are broken Atoms remain unchanged, although they may be rearranged Involve only valence electrons Nuclear Reactions Occur when nuclei emit particles and/or rays Atoms often converted into atoms of another element May involve protons, neutrons, and electrons

Associated with small energy changes

Associated with large energy changes

Chemical vs. Nuclear Reactions

Chemical Reactions Occur when bonds are broken Atoms remain unchanged, although they may be rearranged Involve only valence electrons Nuclear Reactions Occur when nuclei emit particles and/or rays Atoms often converted into atoms of another element May involve protons, neutrons, and electrons

Associated with small energy changes Associated with large energy changes

Reaction rate influenced by temperature, particle size, concentration, etc.

Reaction rate is not influenced by temperature, particle size, concentration, etc.

The Discovery of Radioactivity (1895 1898):

Roentgen found that invisible rays were emitted when electrons bombarded the surface of certain materials. Becquerel accidently discovered that phosphorescent uranium salts produced spontaneous emissions that darkened photographic plates

The Discovery of Radioactivity (1895 1898):

Marie Curie isolated the components (uranium atoms) emitting the rays
Identified

2 new elements, polonium and radium, on the basis of their radioactivity These findings contradicted Daltons theory of indivisible atoms.

Radioactivity process by which particles give off rays Radiation the penetrating rays and particles emitted by a radioactive source

The Discovery of Radioactivity (1895 1898):

Isotopes atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons Radioisotopes isotopes of atoms with unstable nuclei (too many/few neutrons) Radioactive decay when unstable nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation to attain more stable atomic configurations (spontaneous process)

Chemical Symbols

A chemical symbol looks like

14 6

To find the number of neutrons, subtract the atomic # from the mass #.

Alpha radiation

Composition Alpha particles, same as helium 4 nuclei 2 Symbol Helium nuclei, He, Charge 2+ Mass (amu) 4 Approximate energy 5 MeV Penetrating power low (0.05 mm body tissue) Shielding paper, clothing

Beta - radiation

Composition Beta particles, same as an electron Origin neutron turned to a proton + electron Symbol e-, Charge 1Mass (amu) 1/1837 (practically 0) Approximate energy 0.05 1 MeV Penetrating power moderate (4 mm body tissue) Shielding metal foil

Beta + radiation

Composition Beta particles, exact opposite of an electron, called a positron Origin proton turned to a neutron + positron Symbol e+, + Charge 1+ Mass (amu) 1/1837 (practically 0) Approximate energy 0.05 1 MeV Penetrating power moderate (4 mm body tissue) Shielding metal foil

Gamma radiation

Composition High-energy electromagnetic radiation Symbol Charge 0 Mass (amu) 0 Approximate energy 1 MeV Penetrating power high (penetrates body easily) Shielding lead, concrete

Nuclear Stability

Isotope is completely stable if the nucleus will not spontaneously decompose. Elements with atomic #s 1 to 20 are very stable. 1:1 ratio of protons : neutrons (p+: n0) Example: Carbon 12 has 6 protons and 6 neutrons

Nuclear Stability

Elements with atomic #s 21 to 82 are marginally stable. 1:1.5 ratio of protons:neutrons (p+ : n0) Example: Mercury 200 has 80 protons and 120 neutrons

Nuclear Stability

Elements with atomic #s >82 are unstable and radioactive. Examples: Uranium-235 and plutonium-239

Alpha Decay

Alpha decay emission of an alpha particle 4 (), denoted by the symbol 2 Alpha decay causes the mass # to decrease by 4 and the atomic # to decrease by 2. Atomic # determines the element. All nuclear equations are balanced with respect to mass #s AND atomic #s.

Alpha Decay

Example 1: Write the nuclear equation for the radioactive decay of polonium 210 by alpha emission.

Mass #

Step 4: 1: Determine 2: 3: Draw the alpha Write element arrow. the other particle. that product you are (ensuring starting with. everything is balanced).

Atomic #

Alpha Decay

Example 2: Write the nuclear equation for the radioactive decay of radium 226 by alpha emission.

Mass #

Step 4: 1: Determine 2: 3: Draw the alpha Write element arrow. the other particle. that product you are (ensuring starting with. everything is balanced).

Atomic #

Beta - decay

Beta decay emission of a beta particle (-), a 0 - or fast moving electron, denoted by the symbol e -1 . Beta decay causes no change in mass number and causes the atomic number to increase by 1.

Beta- Decay

Example 1: Write the nuclear equation for the radioactive decay of carbon 14 by betaemission.

Mass #

Step 4: 1: Determine 2: 3: Draw the beta Write element arrow. the particle. other that product you are (ensuring starting with. everything is balanced).

Atomic #

Beta- Decay

Example 2: Write the nuclear equation for the radioactive decay of zirconium 97 by beta decay.

Mass #

Step 4: 1: Determine 2: 3: Draw the beta Write element arrow. the particle. other that product you are (ensuring starting with. everything is balanced).

Atomic #

Beta + decay

Beta+ decay emission of a beta particle (+), a 0 + fast moving positron, denoted by the symbol e +1 or . Beta+ decay causes no change in mass number and causes the atomic number to decrease by 1.

Beta + Decay

Example 1: Write the nuclear equation for the radioactive decay of calcium 37 by positron emission.

Mass #

Step 4: 1: Determine 2: 3: Draw the beta Write element arrow. the particle. other that product you are (ensuring starting with. everything is balanced).

Atomic #

Beta+ Decay

Example 2: Write the nuclear equation for the radioactive decay of potassium 37 by beta+ decay.

Mass #

Step 4: 1: Determine 2: 3: Draw the beta Write element arrow. the particle. other that product you are (ensuring starting with. everything is balanced).

Atomic #

Gamma decay

Gamma rays high-energy electromagnetic radiation, denoted by the symbol . has no mass (0) and no charge (0). Gamma rays almost always accompany alpha and beta radiation. However, since there is no effect on mass number or atomic number, they are usually omitted from nuclear equations.

Transmutation

Transmutation the conversion of one atom of one element to an atom of a different element
Spontaneous

radioactive decay is one way that this occurs (fission) Nuclear fusion in the sun Artificial transmutation by people with particle accelerators to create bigger atoms
Typically

products

1 ( n) as reactants or involve neutrons 0

Review
Type of Particle Change Change Radioacti Emitted in Mass # in Atomic ve Decay # 4 2He Alpha -4 -2 0 Beta 0 +1 -1 e 0 + +1e Beta + 0 -1 Gamma 0 0