Nuclear Chemistry

Bravo – 15,000 kilotons

 CA Standards
Students know the three most common forms
of radioactive decay (alpha, beta, and gamma)
and know how the nucleus changes in each type
of decay.
Students know alpha, beta, and gamma
radiation produce different amounts and kinds
of damage in matter and have different
penetrations.
Students know some naturally occurring
isotopes of elements are radioactive, as are
isotopes formed in nuclear reactions.
 Nuclear Symbols

Mass number Element

(p+ + no) symbol

235
U
92
Atomic number
(number of p+)
 Types of Radioactive Decay
alpha
 alpha production
production (a,
(a, He):
He): helium
helium nucleus
nucleus
238
92 U  He 
4
2
234
90 Th
beta
 beta production
production (b,
(b, e):
e):
234
90 Th  234
91 Pa  e
0
1

 gamma
 gamma ray
ray production
production (g):
(g):

U  He 
238
92
4
2 Th  2 
234
90
0
0
 Nuclear
Stability

Decay will occur in

such a way as to
return a nucleus to
the band (line) of
stability.
 Alpha
Radiation
Alpha decay is
limited to VERY
large, nuclei
such as those in
heavy metals.
 Beta
Radiation

Beta decay
converts a
neutron into a
proton.
 Alpha Particle Beta Particle Gamma Ray
Emission Emission Emission

Symbol
4
2 He 2
or
4
2 2 0
e
1 or 1
0

0
0
Mass Heavy Light No Mass

How it changes  Decreases the  Converts a No change to the

the nucleus mass number neutron into a nucleus
by 4 proton
 Decreases the  Increases
atomic number atomic number
by 2 by 1

Penetration Low Medium High

Protection Skin Paper, clothing Lead

provided by…

Danger Low Medium High

 CA Standards
Students know protons and neutrons in the
nucleus are held together by nuclear forces
that overcome the electromagnetic repulsion
between the protons.

Students know the energy release per gram of

material is much larger in nuclear fusion or
fission reactions than in chemical reactions.
The change in mass (calculated by E = mc2) is
small but significant in nuclear reactions.
 Fission

Fission - Splitting a
heavy nucleus into two
nuclei with smaller mass
numbers.
Deuterium – Tritium Fusion Reaction

Fusion - Combining two light nuclei to

form a heavier, more stable nucleus.
 Energy and Mass
Nuclear
Nuclear changes
changes occur
occur with
with small
small but
but measurable
measurable
losses
losses of
of mass.
mass. TheThe lost
lost mass
mass isis called
called the
the mass
mass
defect,
defect, and
and is is converted
converted to to energy
energy according
according to
to
Einstein’s
Einstein’s equation:
equation:
DE == Dmc
DE 2
Dmc2
Dm == mass
Dm mass defect
defect
DE == change
DE change in in energy
energy
cc == speed
speed ofof light
light

Because
Because cc2 is
is so large, even
so large, even small
small amounts
amounts of
of mass
2
mass
are
are converted
converted to to enormous
enormous amount
amount of
of energy.
energy.
A Fission Reactor