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Topic 2 - Structure of the Nucleus

The document discusses the structure of atomic nuclei, including the composition of nucleons, isotopes, and the forces between them. It explains concepts such as mass defect, binding energy, and conservation laws, as well as the production and applications of medical radioisotopes like phosphorus-32 and fluorine-18. The document highlights the methods of producing these isotopes through nuclear reactions and their uses in medical treatments and research.

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Ailie Sofyiana Serasa
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11 views22 pages

Topic 2 - Structure of the Nucleus

The document discusses the structure of atomic nuclei, including the composition of nucleons, isotopes, and the forces between them. It explains concepts such as mass defect, binding energy, and conservation laws, as well as the production and applications of medical radioisotopes like phosphorus-32 and fluorine-18. The document highlights the methods of producing these isotopes through nuclear reactions and their uses in medical treatments and research.

Uploaded by

Ailie Sofyiana Serasa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SACE

Stage Two Physics


Section Four

Topic Two –
The Structure of the Nucleus and The
Production of Medical Radioisotopes
Composition of Nuclei (1)
• The nucleus, which has a diameter of
about 10-14m, consists of two types of
particles:
▫ proton - positive charge of 1.6 x 10-19
C
▫ neutron - no charge
• The term nucleon refers to either a
proton or a neutron.
Composition of Nuclei (2)
• The Atomic Number, Z, of an element
is the number of units of charge in
the nucleus of an element (i.e.) the
number of protons.
• The Mass Number, A, is the number
of protons and neutrons in the
nucleus (i.e.) the number of nucleons.
• A = Z + N, where N is the number of
neutrons.
Composition of Nuclei (2)
The Force Between Nucleons
• At short distances nucleons exert strong
attractive forces on each other
(regardless of charge).
• These forces are negligible at separation
of more than a few nucleon diameters.
• This force becomes repulsive at
extremely short distances.
• Why is it possible to have stable nuclei
despite the strong repulsive electrostatic
force between the protons?
The Force Between Nucleons
Isotopes
• Nuclei of a given element have the
same number of protons.
• May have different numbers of
neutrons – isotopes.
• Isotopes are chemically identical but
have different physical properties (as
they have different masses).
• Why are isotopes of a given element
chemically identical?
Isotopes
Mass Defect and Binding Energy
(1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Yeeo-rJ1k0

• Mass m and energy E are related


according to E = mc2, where c is the
speed of light
• Measurements show that the mass of
the nucleus is less than all of its
individual nucleons
• When the nucleus is formed an
amount of energy corresponding to
the mass defect is released
Mass Defect and Binding Energy
(2)
• When a nucleus is separated, energy
must be supplied.
• The minimum amount of energy is
called the binding energy.
• The binding energy is calculated from
the mass defect using E = mc2
Mass Defect and Binding Energy
(2)
Conservation Laws
• Charge is conserved
• Number of nucleons is conserved
• Energy is conserved (including the
energy associated with mass)
• Momentum is conserved
Conservation of Momentum
• Explain, using the law of conservation
of momentum, why a particle of
relatively small mass that is emitted
by a nucleus acquires most of the
kinetic energy released in the
reaction.
Conservation of Momentum
Conservation of Momentum
Application
The Production of Medical Radioisotopes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI6lFbCj4gQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO1EoTvejs0
Changing a Nucleus
• When a nucleus undergoes a nuclear
reaction with nucleons it can absorb
the particle and change into a
different nucleus.
• Bombarding a nucleus with a neutron
can produce a radioisotope of the
same element or a different element.
• Bombarding a nucleus with protons
or deuterons can produce
radioisotopes of different elements.
Phosphorus-32
• The medical radioisotope phosphorus-
32 may be produced using neutrons
emitted from a nuclear fission reactor
and bombarding them into sulphur-
32.
• The chemical equation is:
Uses of Phosphorus-32
• Scientific research
• Medical treatment
▫ when absorbed into bone marrow it
reduces the production of red blood
cells
▫ tracer to locate area of DNA damage
▫ cancer treatment
Fluorine-18 and Oxygen-15
• Fluorine-18 is produced by
bombarding an oxygen nucleus with a
proton

• Oxygen-15 is produced by
bombarding a nitrogen nucleus with
an isotope of hydrogen (deuterons)
Fluorine-18 and Oxygen-15
• commonly used in positron emission
tomography scans (PET).
• produced in hospitals using
cyclotrons.

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