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Nuclear Decay
October 15nd & 16th, 2009
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The Atom- Review
The atom consists of two parts:
1. The nucleus which contains:
protons neutrons 2. Orbiting electrons. Atom of different elements contain different numbers of protons. The mass of an atom is due to the number of protons and neutrons.
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Isotope Symbol Review
Mass number = number of protons + number of neutrons
A Z
Element symbol
Atomic number = number of protons
A = number of protons + number of neutrons Z = number of protons A Z = number of neutrons
**Number of neutrons = Mass Number Atomic Number**
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Fill in the chart for each isotope
235
A Z
U 92
235
92 92
238
A Z
U 92
238
92 92
Number of protons
Number of protons
Number of neutrons 143
Number of neutrons 146
Isotopes of any particular element contain the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons.
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Most of the isotopes which occur naturally are stable. A few naturally occurring isotopes and all of the manmade isotopes are unstable.
Unstable isotopes can become stable by releasing different types of particles.
This process is called radioactive decay and the elements which undergo this process are called radioisotopes. The products of this decay are called daughter isotopes
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Radioactive Decay
Radioactive decay results in the emission of either:
an alpha particle (a),
a negative beta particle (electron) (b-), a positive beta particle (positron) (b+), or a gamma ray (g). In a nuclear reaction the MASS and ATOMIC NUMBER must be the SAME on both sides of the equations
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Alpha Decay
An alpha particle is identical to that of a helium nucleus.
It contains two protons and two neutrons.
X Z
A-4
Y He + Z-2 2
alpha particle
unstable atom more stable atom
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Alpha Decay
226
Ra 88
222
Rn 86
He 2
Loss of 2 protons & 2 neutrons: Atomic # decreases by 2 Mass # decreases by 4
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Write your own Alpha Decay
A
X Z
A-4
Y + Z-2
A
He 2
4
What is Y?
222
Rn 86 Rn 86
Y He + Z 2
4
222
218
Po + 84
He 2
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Write the equation for the alpha decay of Uranium-234
234
U
230
+ Th He + 90 2
4
234
U 92
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Find the missing starting material
A
X Z
214
Pb He + 82 2
218
Po 84
214
Pb He + 82 2
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Beta Emission
A beta particle is a fast moving electron which is emitted from the nucleus of an atom undergoing radioactive decay.
Beta emission occurs when a neutron changes into a proton and an electron.
X Z
Y + Z+1
proton stays in nucleus
e -1
beta particle (electron)
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Beta Emission
218
Po 84
218
At 85
e -1
Neutron splits emitting negative particle leaving a proton.
Atomic # increases by 1 Mass # stays the same (electrons have no mass)
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Write your own Beta Emission
A
X Z
Y + Z+1
A
e -1
What is Y?
234
Th 90 Th 90
Y + Z Pa + 91
e -1 e -1
0
234
234
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Write the equation for the beta emission of carbon-14
14
C
14
+ N + 7
14
e -1
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Find the missing starting material
A
X Z
214
Bi + 83 Bi + 83
e -1
214
Pb 82
214
e -1
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Electron Capture
Electron Capture is the opposite of Beta Emission
The capture of the electron allows a proton to turn into a neutron
+ X Z
e -1
Y Z-1
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Electron Capture
218
At 85
0 + -1
218
Po 84
Capture negative particle, forming a neutron from a proton
Atomic # decreases by 1 Mass # stays the same (electrons have no mass)
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Write your own Electron Capture
A
+ X Z
e -1
Y Z-1
A
What is Y?
37
+ Ar 18
37
e -1
0
Y Z-1
37
+ Ar 18
e -1
Cl 17
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Write the equation for electron capture of nickel-59
59
Ni +
0
59
+ Ni 28
e -1
59
Co 27
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Find the missing starting material
A
+ X Z
14
e -1
0
14
6
C
C
+ N 7
e -1
14 6
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Positron Emission
A positron is like an electron but it has a positive charge.
During positron emission a proton changes into a neutron and the excess positive charge is emitted.
X Z
Y + Z-1
mass stays in nucleus
e +1
positron
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218
Positron Emission
218
At 85
Po 84
0 +
+1
Proton splits emitting positive particle leaving a neutron.
Atomic # decreases by 1 Mass # stays the same (positrons, like electrons, have no mass)
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Write your own Positron Emission
A
X Z
8
Y + Z-1
A
e +1
What is Y?
B 5
8
Y + Z
8
e +1 e +1
0
B 5
Be +
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Write the equation for the positron emission of oxygen-16
16
O O
16
+
N + 7
16
e +1
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Find the missing starting material
A
X Z
66
Cu + 29 Cu + 29
e +1
66
Zn 30
66
e +1
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Gamma Decay
When atoms decay by emitting a or b particles to form a new atom, the nuclei of the new atom formed may still have too much energy to be completely stable. These atoms will emit gamma rays to release that energy. Gamma rays are high energy radiation Gamma rays are not charged particles like a and b particles.
There is no change in mass or atomic number
X Z
X +
g 0
0
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Summary
Reaction
Alpha Decay a Beta Decay b-
What happens?
Lose Helium Nucleus Lose electron from nucleus (neutron turns into proton)
Mass # -4 No change
Atomic # -2 +1
Electron Capture
Gain electron in nucleus (proton turns into neutron)
No change
No change
-1
-1
Positron Emission Lose positron (proton turns into neutron) b+ Gammy Decay g Emit high energy gamma ray
No change No change
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Nuclear Stability
The strong nuclear force holds all nuclei together Otherwise protons would repel each other
Neutrons space out protons and make nucleus stable
Not all isotopes are radioactive
Only unstable nuclei decay In smaller atoms stable isotopes have equal numbers of
protons and neutrons
In larger atoms stable isotopes will have more neutrons
than protons
Too many or too few neutrons makes the nucleus unstable
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Nuclear Stability Graph
Dark band = stable nucleus Areas off line = radioactive
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Fission
Fission is when a nucleus splits
This is what happens in
nuclear power plants
Neutrons emitted during
fission reactions can cause other fission reactions
This is a chain reaction
In a nuclear reactor the
chain reaction is controlled with control rods
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Chain Reaction
Each reaction
allows multiple other reactions to occur
Controlled vs
Uncontrolled
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Fusion
When two or more elements fuse (combine) to form one
new heavier element
The energy released by the sun and all stars is due to fusion
reactions in the core
This process releases more energy than fission Fusion reactions are hard to contain because the reactants
are a plasma and at very high temperatures, no solid material can contain a plasma
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Fission
Nucleus splits
Energy is released Nuclear Change
Fusion
Nuclei combine
End product is lighter than reactants Reaction can be harnessed
End product is heavier than reactants Cant contain reaction LOTS of energy released
