Module I.2.

Part I Review of Fundamentals

Module 2 Basic Physics and Mathematics

Used in Radiation Protection

Session 5 Nuclear Stability and

Radionuclides

IAEA Post Graduate Educational Course

3/2003 Rev 1 Radiation Protection and Safe Use of Radiation Sources I.2.5 – slide 1 of 21
 Introduction

 Nuclear stability and unstable nuclei

will be discussed

 Students will learn about atomic

structure, the line of stability, and
radioactive or unstable nuclei

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 2 of 21

 Content

 Nuclear stability

 Unstable nuclei

 Radionuclides

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 3 of 21

 Overview

 The atom, nuclear stability, and unstable

nuclei will be discussed

 Some common radionuclides used in

the nuclear industry will be discussed

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 4 of 21

 Pioneering Nuclear Physicists

Ernest O. Rutherford
postulated atomic nucleus
in 1911

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 5 of 21

 Pioneering Nuclear Physicists

Niels Bohr, 1913

atomic model

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 6 of 21

 The Atom

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 7 of 21

 Isotopes

The number of protons

determines the element.

Elements with the same

number of protons but
different numbers of
neutrons are called
isotopes.

Some isotopes are

radioactive.
3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 8 of 21
 Discovery of the Electron

J. J. Thomson,
discovered electron
in 1897

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 9 of 21

 Discovery of the Neutron

James Chadwick,
Discovered neutron
in 1932

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 10 of 21

 Basic Nuclear Structure

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 11 of 21

 Periodic Table of Elements

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 12 of 21

 Nuclear Stability

 A stable or non-radioactive nuclide is one

whose atoms do not decay

 If one plots the stable nuclei, an interesting

pattern emerges (shown in next slide)

 The graph in the next slide shows a plot of

neutron number N vs atomic number Z for
the stable nuclei

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 13 of 21

 The Line of Stability

N>Z

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 14 of 21

 Nuclear Stability

 For the heaviest stable nuclei, N is about

1.5 times Z

 The presence of the extra neutrons

overcomes the positively charged protons’
tendency to repel each other and disrupt
the nucleus

 The nucleus is held together by a poorly

understood force, the Nuclear Force
3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 15 of 21
 Nuclear Stability

 The nuclear force is an extremely short-

range force

 It acts over a maximum distance of about

two proton diameters

 The nuclear force is responsible for the

binding energy that holds the nucleus
together

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 16 of 21

 Unstable Nuclei

 Nuclei which do not fall on the line of

stability tend to be unstable or “radioactive”

 They are called “radionuclides”

 A few radionuclides do fall on the line of

stability but their rate of decay is so slow
that for all practical purposes they are stable

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 17 of 21

 Unstable Nuclei

 Radionuclides undergo a process called

radioactive transformation or disintegration

 In this process, the nucleus emits particles

to adjust its neutron (N) to proton (Z) ratio

 This change in the N to Z ratio tends to

move the radionuclide toward the line of
stability

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 18 of 21

 Some Common Radionuclides

 Naturally occurring 235U and 238U

 Co, 137Cs, 90Sr found in nuclear power
60

plants
 192
Ir used in radiography
 99m
Tc used in nuclear medicine
 I used in treatment of thyroid
131

conditions
3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 19 of 21
 Summary

 Atomic structure was reviewed

 Principles of nuclear stability were discussed

 Unstable nuclei were discussed

 Some common radionuclides were listed

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 20 of 21

 Where to Get More Information

 Cember, H., Introduction to Health Physics, 3rd

Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York (2000)

 Firestone, R.B., Baglin, C.M., Frank-Chu, S.Y., Eds.,

Table of Isotopes (8th Edition, 1999 update), Wiley,
New York (1999)

 International Atomic Energy Agency, The Safe Use

of Radiation Sources, Training Course Series No. 6,
IAEA, Vienna (1995)

3/2003 Rev 1 I.2.5 – slide 21 of 21