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Nuclear Chemistry

Nuclear chemistry involves the study of nuclear reactions and their uses. Key topics covered include radioactive decay via emission of alpha, beta, gamma, positron or electron capture particles. Isotopes and radionuclides are discussed. Nuclear equations are used to represent radioactive decay and nuclear transmutation reactions involving absorption or emission of particles by atomic nuclei.

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49 views14 pages

Nuclear Chemistry

Nuclear chemistry involves the study of nuclear reactions and their uses. Key topics covered include radioactive decay via emission of alpha, beta, gamma, positron or electron capture particles. Isotopes and radionuclides are discussed. Nuclear equations are used to represent radioactive decay and nuclear transmutation reactions involving absorption or emission of particles by atomic nuclei.

Uploaded by

Goldèn Dawn
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Nuclear Chemistry

Chapter 21
Nuclear Chemistry
 Study of nuclear reactions and their
uses in chemistry
 nuclear reactions – change in matter
originating in the nucleus of an atom
 radioactive – nuclei spontaneously
changing and emitting radiation
Nuclear Chemistry

 Subatomic particles are involved


 proton and neutron  nucleons
 Can be determined by atomic number and
mass number
 Same atomic number, different mass
number  isotope
 Radioactive nuclei  radionuclide
 Atoms with radionuclides  radioisotopes
Nuclear Chemistry
 Radionuclides
 Unstable
 Emit particles and electromagnetic
radiation
 Radioactive decay
Radioactive Decay
 1 – alpha radiation α
 Helium - 4 particles, aka alpha particles
 4 He
2

 238 U  23490Th + 42He


92
Alpha radiation - Sample

 What product is formed when radium-


226 undergoes alpha decay?
 226 Ra  222 Rn + 4 He
88 86 2

 What element undergoes alpha decay


to form lead-208?
 212 Po  208 Pb + 4 He
84 82 2
Radioactive decay
 2 – beta radiation β
 High speed e-
 0 e or 0 β
-1 -1

 131 I  13154Xe + 0-1e


53
Radioactive decay
 3 – gamma radiation γ
 High energy photons
 0 γ
0

 Energy lost when nucleons reorganize


Radioactive decay
 4 – positron emission
 Same mass as e-, opposite charge
 0 e
1

 11C  115B + 01e


6

 Positron can convert proton to neutron


Radioactive decay
 5 – electron capture
 Capture of electron by nucleus from
electron cloud
 0 e consumed, not formed
-1
Electron Capture - Sample
 Write nuclear equations for the
following processes:
 a) Mercury-201 undergoes electron
capture
 b) Thorium-231 decays to form
protactinium-231
 a) 20180Hg + 0-1e  20179Au
 b) 23190Th  23191Pa + 0-1e
Electron Capture-Sample 2
 Write a balanced nuclear equation for
the reaction in which oxygen-15
undergoes positron emission
 15O  157N + 01e
8
Nuclear Transmutations
 Nuclei changed by being struck by
neutron or nucleus
 Commonly represented by listing in
order the target nucleus, the
bombarding particles, the ejected
particles, the product nucleus
 14
7N (α,p)178O
 14 N + 4 He  1 p + 17 O
7 2 1 8
Nuclear Transmutations-
Sample
 Write the balanced nuclear equation
for the process summarized as 2713Al
(n, α) 2411Na
 27
13 Al + 10n  42He + 2411Na
 Using shorthand notation, write the
nuclear reaction 168O + 11H  137N +
4 He
2
 16O (p, α) 42He
8

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