Transcript Chapter

Chapter 22
Nuclear Reactions
Nuclear Rxns

Nuclear reaction-a reaction that
involves a change in an atom’s
nucleus.

Therefore, an atom of one element
changes into an atom of another
element.
Nuclear Rxns

Nuclide (Nucleus of an atom)

Contains nucleons(protons and neutrons)
Chemical vs. Nuclear Rxns.
Chemical Rxns
Nuclear Rxns
Occur
when bonds are
broken and formed
Occur
Atoms
remain
unchanged, just
rearranges
Atoms
Involve
only outer
electrons
May
Associated
Associated
with small
energy changes
when nuclei emit
particles and/or rays
are often
converted into atoms of
another element.
involve p, n
with large
energy changes
Radiation

Radiation-The rays and particles
that are emitted by radioactive
materials.
Alpha Radiation

Alpha radiation-radiation deflected
towards the negatively charged plate
and gives off alpha particles

Alpha particles, He or α : 2p, 2n so +2
charge, largest mass (4 amu)
Beta Radiation

Beta radiation-radiation deflected
towards the positively charged plate and
gives off beta particles (electrons).

Beta particles, β or e: 1e so -1 charge,
mass is between alpha and gamma
particles
Gamma Radiation

Gamma radiation-radiation deflected
towards no plate and gives off gamma
rays

Gamma rays, γ : no mass and no
charge, usually occupied by α and β
decay.
Nuclear Rxns

(1)



Rn
→
N
+
He
C
+
e
β decay
(3) U

→
α decay
(2)

Ra
→
γ decay
Th
+
He + 2γ
Types of Radiation (Memorize)
Consists
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Charge
Mass
Stopped w/
symbol
Types of Radiation

Positron emission-radioactive decay
that involves the emission of a
positron from a nucleus (antimatter)

Positron-particle with the same mass as
the electron but opposite charge
• Symbol:
Types of Radiation

Electron Capture- nucleus of an
atom draws in a surrounding
electron and an X-ray photon is
emitted

Symbol:
Nuclear Reactions

Nuclear Rxn- a rxn that changes the
nucleus

Transmutation-a change in the
identity of the nucleus, change in #
of protons in nucleus.
Nuclear Stability
Mass defect – diff. between mass of
an atom and sum of masses for p, n,
e.
Why loss of mass?
Caused by conversion of mass to
energy upon formation of nucleus

Nuclear Binding energy – energy
released upon formation of nucleus
Nuclear Stability
The smaller stable nuclides have a
neutron-proton of 1:1 to the larger
nuclides of 1.5:1.
 If the nuclei ratio falls above/below
the band of stability, the nuclides
will undergo decay until they are
within the band of stability.

Radioactive decay

Radioactive decay-spontaneous
disintegration of an unstable
nucleus to a smaller nucleus by
giving off nuclear radiation.

Radioactive nuclide- unstable
nucleus that will undergo radioactive
decay
Nuclear Rxns
Identify the product that balances the
following nuclear rxns.
1. 212Po → 4He + ____
2.
230Th
→ _____ +
3.
238U
+
4He
4.
27Al
+
1n
4He
→ ____ + 1n
→
24Na
+ ____
Radioactive decay
Alpha Emission
210Po
 206Pb + ____
Beta Emission
14C  14N + ____
Electron Capture (reverse of beta)
106Ag + _____  106Pd
Positron emission
11C → 11B + _____
Half-life

Half-Life- t1/2 - the time required for half the
atoms of a radioactive element to decay into
another element.

Fluorine-21 has a half life,t1/2, of 5 seconds
1000 atoms F-21500 atoms F-21  250 atoms F-21
1(whole amt)

½ left

¼ left
100 g F-21
50 g F-21
25 g F-21
Half-Life Problems
Formulas:
To determine the number of half-lives that
past:
#half-lives past = total time
t1/2
To determine amount remaining:
Amount remaining = (Initial amt)1 n
2
n= # of half lives past
Half-Life Problems
1.
If the radioactive sample of I-131
was 18.5g, what amt is left after
32 days? (t1/2 = 8 days)
Half-Life Problems
2.Iron-59 is used in medicine to
diagnosis blood circulation disorders.
The half-life of iron-59 is 44.5 days.
How much of a 2.000 mg sample
will remain after 133.5 days?
Half-Life Problems
3. If gallium-68 has a half-life of 68.3
minutes, how much of a 10.0 mg
sample is left after two half-lives?
Half-Life
4. After 15 days only 2 grams remain
of a sample that has a half life of 5
days. How many grams were in
the original amount?
5. What is the half life of K-42 if a 750
gram sample decays to 93.75
grams in 24 hours?
6. The half-life of carbon-14 is 5715
years. A sample has only ¼ of its
original amount. What is the age
of the sample?
Decay Series

Decay Series-a series of radioactive
nuclides produced by successive
radioactive decay until a stable
nuclide is reached
Decay Series Questions
Use pg. 814
 Write the four nuclear equations of
the uranium-238 decay series.
 What stable nuclide does U-238
finally become?
 How long is the half life of U-238?
U-238

U-238 is found in small amounts in soil and
rock, particularly, shale and granite.

Rn is one of the daughter nuclide of U238(parent nuclide) decay.

Rn is a radioactive gas that can be a health
hazard trapped in homes from cracks and holes
in foundation. It can cause lung cancer and
birth defects.

Ra-226, Po-210, Pb-210 are found in cigarettes
and the lungs of smokers.
Induced Transmutation

Induced Transmutation- bombardment
of stable nuclei with charged and
uncharged particles.

This process is used to make radioactive
nuclides not found nature, like our newly
discovered elements.
Induced Transmutation
1.
Write a balanced nuclear equation for
the induced transmutation of aluminum27 into phosphorus-30 by alpha particle
bombardment. A neutron is emitted
from the aluminum atom.
Induced Transmutation
2.
Write the balanced nuclear equation
for the induced transmutation of
aluminum-27 into sodium-24 by
neutron bombardment. An alpha
particle is released in the rxn.
Induced Transmutation
What element would be formed in the
following nuclear rxn?
3.
242Cm
+
4He
 ______ + 1n
Nuclear Radiation

Radiation Exposure

Rem-a unit used to measure radiation
damage to human tissue like x-rays…
(Complete personal radiation wkst)
Nuclear Radiation

Radiation Detection
Geiger Muller counters -measures
electrical pulses on gas ionized by
radiation
 Film badges
 Scintillation counter

Geiger Counter
Applications of Nuclear Radiation

Radiochemical Dating:
14C
t1/2

 0e + 14N
= 5715 yrs
Living organisms absorb 14C through
food. This C-14 is a constant amt.
When the organism dies, there is no
new absorption of C-14. The C-14 decays
to N-14. By measuring the amount of C14 the age may be approximated.
Applications of Nuclear Radiation

Radioactive Nuclides in Medicine


Radioactive tracers are radioactive atoms
incorporated into substances so they can be
followed by radiation detectors.
Ex. Tc-99 used to detect bone cancer,
I-131 to detect thyroid problems
Applications of Nuclear Radiation

Radioactive Nuclides in Agriculture


Radioactive tracers are used to
determine effectiveness of fertilizers.
Cobalt-60 is used to irradiate food,
to kill bacteria and insects. It is also
used to kill cancer cells.
Nuclear Waste
1.
Produced from nuclear power
plants, nuclear weapons
manufacturing, medical research,…
2. Containment on nuclear waste from
nuclear power plants is on-site
and off-site disposal.
Nuclear Waste
*3. Each nuclear reactor has large
pools of water where spent
uranium fuel rods can be stored.
4. When the pools are filled, they are
sealed in concrete and steel dry
casks then moved to permanent
storage facilities. There are 77
disposal sites in the US.
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Fission

Nuclear Fission- splitting a larger
nucleus to smaller intermediate
nuclides

Nuclear Reactors use controlled
fission reactions to produced energy by
this rxn:
Parts of Nuclear Reactor

Chain rxn-self propagating rxn

Fuel- U-235

Moderator-slows down high speed neutrons to
CONTINUE chain rxn; uses water, Be, or
C(graphite)

Control Rods -absorbs neutrons, thereby
controlling rate of fission rxn; made of Cd
Parts of Nuclear Reactor
Coolant-water to remove heat to
turbines to generate electricity
 Containment structure(shielding)structure built around reactor to hold
in radiation from escaping in case of
an accident; server feet thick concrete.

Recent Nuclear Accidents

1986
Chernobyl power plant in
Soviet Union-Complete
meltdown of core

1979
Three Mile Island, USApartial meltdown
Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear Fusion-small nuclei join to
form larger nuclei
Ex. sun and stars
 fusion releases 20X more energy per
gram than fission
 Uses: hydrogen bomb and in future
fusion power plants

Fusion Reactors

Disadvantages of fusion reactors
Huge input of energy needed to start
process
 A temperature of 200 million K
needed to sustain rxn.

Fusion Reactors

Advantages of fusion reactors:
Readily available hydrogen from water
 Nonradioactive products
 Can stop rxn by dropping temp.
 Can produce inexhaustible supply of
energy
