Study Guide in CHE 111: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS Module 3: NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY AND ENERGY

NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY

Nuclear Chemistry
-study of the chemical and physical properties of elements as influenced by changes in the structure
of the atomic nucleus. Nuclear chemistry deals with the nuclei of atoms breaking apart.

The Nature of Nuclear Reactions

Nucleons – the particles that make up the nucleus of an atom(p+ and n0).
Isotopes – atoms that has the same atomic number but different atomic mass
Nuclide – a particular atom or isotope containing specific number of protons and neutrons.

Particle/Radiation - the emission and propagation of energy in the form of rays or waves.

Types of Emitted Particle

Particle/Radiation Charge Symbol
4
Alpha particle or helium +2 2𝐻𝑒
nucleus
0
Beta particle/ electron -1 −1𝛽
0
positron +1 1𝛽
1
Proton or hydrogen nucleus +1 1𝑝
1
neutron 0 0𝑛
0
Gamma ray 0 0𝛾

Types of Radioactive Decay

1. Alpha Decay
A nuclear decay reaction that particle results in the emission of a helium-4 nucleus as an α particle..
The general reaction is as follows:
𝐴 𝐴−4 ′ 4
𝑍𝑋 → 𝑍−2𝑋 + 2𝐻𝑒
2. Beta Decay
A nuclear decay reaction in which a neutron is converted to a proton and a high-energy electron that is
ejected from the nucleus as a β particle. The general reaction for beta decay is:
𝐴 𝐴 ′ 0
𝑍𝑋 → 𝑍+1𝑋 + −1𝛽
3. Positron Emmision

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 21

Study Guide in CHE 111: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS Module 3: NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY AND ENERGY

A nuclear decay reaction in which a proton is transformed into a neutron, and a high energy positron is
emitted. The general reaction for Positron decay is:
𝐴 𝐴 ′ 0
𝑍𝑋 → 𝑍−1𝑋 + +1𝛽
4. Electron Capture
A nuclear decay reaction in which an electron in an inner shell reacts with a proton to produce a
neutron. The general reaction is:
𝐴 0 𝐴 ′
𝑍𝑋 + −1𝑒 → 𝑍−1𝑋 + 𝑥 − 𝑟𝑎𝑦
5. Gamma Emmision
A nuclear decay reaction that results when a nucleus in an excited state releases energy in the form of
a high-energy photon (a γ ray) when it returns to the ground state.
𝐴 ∗ 𝐴 0
𝑍𝑋 → 𝑍𝑋 + 0𝛾

Nuclear Stability
1. When a nuclide has 84 or more protons (Z > 84), it tends to be unstable and likely to undergo
radioactive decay.
2. Lighter nuclides are stable when Z = n (or n : p+ ratio =1). However, heavier nuclides are stable only
when Z < n (or n : p+ ratio >1)
3. Nuclides with even no. of p+ , with even no. of n are more stable than nuclides with odd no. of p+ , with
odd no. of n.
4. Magic numbers of p+ or n (2,8,20,28,50, 82 and 126) results in very stable nuclides.

Nuclear Binding Energy and Mass Defect

Nuclear binding energy (ΔE) is the energy required to split a nucleus of an atom into its
components. Nuclear binding energy is used to determine whether fission or fusion will be a favorable
process.
The mass defect(Δm) of a nucleus represents the mass of the energy binding the nucleus, and is
the difference between the mass of a nucleus and the sum of the masses of the nucleons of which it is
composed.
Δm= (mn+mp) - mo where: mp =1.00728 amu
mn = 1.00867 amu
m0 = mass obsereved
Einstein’s Mass-Energy Conversion
ΔEbinding = -Δmc2 where: ΔE – binding energy
Δm – mass defect
c – speed of light (2.998 x 108 m/s)
note: 1 kg = 6.022 x 1026 amu
1 eV=1.69 x 10-19J
Radioactive Decay Laws
Radioactivity occurs because some nuclei are unstable and are spontaneously decaying.
Important aspects of radioactivity:
 -Elements transform into other different elements.
 -The energy released in radioactive decay comes from mass which is converted to energy.
 -Radioactivity is a quantum phenomenon. Radioactive decay is a statistical process.

Fundamental Laws on Radioactive Decay

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 22

Study Guide in CHE 111: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS Module 3: NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY AND ENERGY

Each nucleus has a fixed probability of decaying per unit time. Nothing affects this probability. (e.g.,
temperature, pressure, bonding environment, etc.) [exception: very high pressure promotes electron
capture slightly].
This is equivalent to saying that averaged over a large enough number of atoms the number of
decays per unit time is proportional to the number of atoms present.
Therefore in a closed system:
dN
 N
dt
– N = number of parent nuclei at time t
–1
– λ= decay constant = probability of decay per unit time (units: s )
• To get time history of number of parent nuclei, integrate
Nt = Noe-λt
– No = initial number of parent nuclei at time t = 0
Activity - the activity of radioactive sample is the rate at which atoms decay.
A = cλN = cλNo e-λt = Aoe-λt Where: Ao = original activity
A= activity at any tim t
c=detection coefficient

The Half Life

The half life t of a nucleus is the time after which half the parent remains:
1/2
Nt1/2 = Noe-λt1/2
t1/2 = ln2/λ
Note: In actual practice, the decay of radioisotope is usually given in terms of half life, the time required for
one-half the atoms originally present to decay

Problems
1. Balance the following nuclear equations:
a. Rn-222 produces an α-particle
b. Carbon-14 produces a β-particle
c. Sc-49 produces a β-particle and a neutron.
d. Carbon-11 produces a positron.
e. Krypton-40 captures an electron and produces a gamma-ray
f. H-1 reacts with N-15 to produce an α-particle with gamma-ray
2. Classify each nuclide as stable or radioactive.
a. 3015𝑃
98
b. . 43 𝑇𝑐
c. . Tin-118
d. . 239
94𝑃𝑢
3. Calculate the binding energy for carbon-13 (13.003355 amu) in J/nucleon and MeV/nucleon.
4. Radium-226 will undergo alpha decay. a.)write out this nuclear reaction b.) calculate the mass defect c.)
calculate the energy released by this nuclear reaction d.)calculate the energy released per nucleon for this
nuclear reaction
5. Radon gas has a half life of 3.83 days. What is its radioactive decay constant? What percentage of the
radon atoms originally present will decay in a period of 30 days?

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 23

Study Guide in CHE 111: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS Module 3: NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY AND ENERGY

6. Tritium ( 31𝐻 ) has a half life of 12.5 years against beta decay. What fraction of a sample of pure tritium will
remain undecayed after 25 years?
7. Technecium-99 is used as radiotracer for many organs such as heart, liver and lungs. It has a half life of
6 hours. What is the radioactive amount of 100mg of technecium in 2 days.
8. Iodine-131 is a radiotracer used to detect thyroid activity. Its half-life is 8.1 days.
a.) Determine its rate constant,
b.) How long will it take a patient to have her initial dosage of iodine to decrease to 1% of its initial
value.

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 24

Study Guide in CHE 111: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS Module 3: NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY AND ENERGY

Figure 3.1 Band of Stability

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 25