Nuclear Chemistry

Bravo – 15,000 kilotons

• Chemical Reactions:
– Changes in Valence e-
– Woosh bottle, Flame
test, Gummy Bear
Sacrifice, etc. • Radioactivity:
• Nuclear Reactions: – Spontaneous emission of
– Changes in nucleus radiation from an atom.
– Chain reactions, atomic
bomb, etc. • 3 kinds of radiation given off:
– 1. Alpha radiation
– 2. Beta radiation
– 3. Gamma radiation
• Stable Nucleus is not radioactive
• Stability depends on P+ and Neutron combination
• Nucleus = +’s & 0’s in a small space (likes repel)
• STRONG NUCLEAR FORCE keeps the nucleus stable
• Neutrons add to the Strong Nuclear Force
– (Act as the glue that holds the nucleus together)
– Elements 1-20 the protons generally = neutrons
– Elements 21-82 the neutrons increasingly outnumber the protons
– Elements 83 on up, there becomes too many extra neutrons to keep
the nucleus stable and it becomes radioactive.
– Generally isotopes that are too heavy (2 many neutrons) or too
light (2 few neutrons) are radioactive.
• Alpha Particle = 2 protons & 2 neutrons (helium nucleus)
• Only travel a few cm through air
• Paper or clothing can stop them
• Safe, unless the source is inside of your body

4
2
4
2

• Beta particles=high speed e- from nucleus (not from cloud)
– A neutron changes into 1 proton and 1 electron
– The electron speeds out and the proton stays in the nucleus
– About 100 times more penetrating than alpha particles.
– Penetrates 1-2 mm into solid objects and could damage the skin
– Must wear heavy clothing to stop them

0

0
-1 -1
• Gamma radiation = are very energetic, but are not particles
– Are very similar to X-Rays
– They often accompany alpha and beta radiation
– Are stopped by concrete or lead

0
0

• When an atom emits any of these forms of radiation,
radioactive decay occurs. Below is an example of a
nuclear reaction:
– Beta decay of iodine-131:
– In radioactive decay, the sum of the atomic #’s & the mass #’s
is the same before and after the reaction.
131 131 0
53 54 -1
 Nuclear Symbols

Mass number Element

(p+ + no) symbol

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

 gamma ray production ():

U  He 
238
92
4
2 Th  2 
234
90
0
0
 Uranium-238 Radioactive Decay Series
Radioactive Decay Series of 238U

238U92  234Th90 + 42

234Th90  234Pa91 + – +
234Pa91  234U92 + – +
234U92  . . . (continue)
. . .
206Pb82
Penetration
• Alpha (Low)- blocked
by paper or skin
• Beta (medium) –
medium wood, thin
sheet of metal (foil)
• Gamma (high)-Thick
concrete or lead

11
 % Alpha Particle Beta Particle Gamma Ray
Emission Emission Emission
4
Symbol 2 He 2

4
or 2
2 0
1 e 0
or 1 
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

 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.
A Fission Reactor
 Your task:
• Watch the TedEd Debate on
nuclear energy and take a stand
(for or against)
• Preview Eyes of Nye Nuclear
Energy (will watch parts in
class)
• Modeling Nuclear Reactions