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Nuclear Transmutation OL2
Nuclear Transmutation OL2
TRANSMUTATIONS
Natural transmutation (radioactivity)
Till now we have discussed only transmutations of one
nuclei to another by emmiting radioactive particle that
occur only naturally.
14
7𝑁 + 10𝑛 → 14
6𝐶 + 11𝑝
● Alpha particle, neutrons, protons, and deuterons …. can
be used to produce artificial nuclear reactions.
Total = 98 = 98
ATOMIC NUMBERS
4
Guide to Balancing a Nuclear Equation
5
Learning Check
6
Solution
mass numbers
60 = 60
59Co + 1n 56Mn + 4H e
27 0 25 2
27 = 27
atomic numbers
7
Artificial Transmutation
a. Induced Radioactivity
1. Bombarding a normally stable nucleus
with high-energy particles can lead to
transmutation of one element into
another.
b. Transuranic Elements
1. Elements heavier than uranium (Z=92),
the transuranic elements, do not occur
in nature but can be made through
artificial transmutation.
8
Irène and Frédéric Joliot-Curie
10
General Nuclear Equations
11
25.2 Nuclear Transformations > Nuclear Stability and Decay
1 p → 0 n + +1b
1 1 0
1 p + -1e → 0 n
1 0 1
Transmutation
• Transmutation is the process of atoms of unstable
nuclide A changing into atoms of nuclide B.
– This can occur naturally (by radioactive decay) or...
– ...as a result of bombardment reactions
• Example: Bombardment of nitrogen-14 with alpha particles...
oxygen-17 was formed.
Bombardment Reactions
• The production of synthetic elements (transuranium
elements) and non-natural nuclides of other elements
are the result of bombardment reactions.
Example:
208Bi + 4He --> 210At + ?
Transuranium Elements
14 11
63 63 2. 7𝑁 𝑝, 𝛼 6𝐶
2. 29𝐶𝑢 𝑝, 𝑛 30𝑍𝑛
Transmutation by protons
• Proton possess a charge of 1 unit and a mass of 1 unit. Thus, they
possess a potential energy barrier that is comparatively less than that
of 𝜶 –particles.
• The projection of a proton can be done with the help of an
accelerator, cyclotron or synchrocyclotron.
• C. (𝒑, γ) reaction D. (𝒑, 𝒅) reaction
1. 126𝐶 𝑝, γ 137𝑁 1. 49𝐵𝑒 𝑝, 𝑑 84𝐵𝑒
27 28
2. 13𝐴𝑙 𝑝, γ 14𝑆𝑖
Transmutation by deuterons
• Deuteron possess a charge of 1 unit and a mass of 2 units.
• C. (𝒅, 𝜶) reaction
1. 63𝐿𝑖 𝑑, 𝛼 42𝐻𝑒
12 10
2. 6𝐶 𝑑, 𝛼 5𝐵
Transmutation by neutrons
• Neutron possess a charge of 0 unit and a mass of 1 unit. As they are
not charged, they do not possess a potential energy barrier and
hence many reactions are possible using neutrons as projectiles.
115 116
2. 49𝐼𝑛 𝑛, 𝛾 49𝐼𝑛
Transmutation by γ − rays
• A. (𝜸, 𝒏) reaction
1. 21𝐷 𝛾, 𝑛 11𝐻
• B. (𝜸, 𝒑) reaction
1. 49𝐵𝑒 𝛾, 𝑝 83𝐿𝑖
• C. (𝜸, 𝜶) reaction
1. 126𝐶 𝛾, 𝛼 84𝐵𝑒
Distinguish