Unit 13: Nuclear Chemistry Notes
Name
Review: Isotope notation
An isotope notation is written as___________, where X is the ________________, A is the ________________
______________ (sum of protons and neutrons), and Z is the __________________________________.
For example…
238
92U
U is for _________________, mass number is _______, and atomic number is __________
The isotope can also be written as _____________________________ for short since uranium will always have
the atomic number of 92.
What is nuclear chemistry?
Nuclear chemistry is the study of processes in which the ________________________________
______________________________________ in some way.
Three different types of changes:

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________
Radioactive Decay
Radioactive decay is when an ____________________________________________________________ into
smaller nuclei, or changes in some other way to make it more stable.
All elements have radioactive isotopes in which the ________________________________________________
makes the nuclei unstable.

All elements past uranium have NO stable isotopes. As a result, all of these elements undergo
radioactive decay of some sort.
Nuclear radiation
When radioactive decay occurs, the nuclei of an element either ______________________________________
in order to gain a more stable ratio of protons to neutrons. Here are the following types of nuclear decay you
need to know:

_________________ radiation (_________)

_________________ radiation (_________)

_________________ radiation (_________)
Alpha radiation

Alpha particle is a _________________________ with ___________________ and ___________________.
It has a _____________ charge.

Alpha particle can be written as _______________ or ________________

Alpha particles are the ___________________ type of radiation particle and most ___________________
_____________________.

Alpha particles can be blocked by your _______________________________________________________.
Alpha decay


This is when a nucleus loses an alpha particle (a helium nucleus) to become more stable.
One example of this reaction is the alpha decay of U-238
________________________________________________________________
Example:
polonium-210
thorium-230
Beta radiation

Beta particle is an _______________________. It has a __________ charge.

Beta particle can be written as ________________ or _________________.

Beta particles are _________________________ and can have ________________________________.

Alpha particles can be blocked by ______________________________.
Beta decay

This is when there is an uneven ratio of neutrons to protons in the nucleus (_____________
___________________ neutrons), an excess neutron will split.

One example of this reaction is the beta decay of Lead-210
_______________________________________________________________
Example:
carbon-14
thorium-231
Gamma radiation

Gamma ray is high-energy _______________ or ray. It has a no charge.

Gamma ray can be written as ___________

Gamma rays are high frequency and the _______________________________________ type of radiation.
This makes them the ____________________________________________________.

Alpha particles can be blocked by ___________________________________________________________.
Gamma Emission



This is when the nucleus needs to _________________________________________________ and achieve
stability during nuclear reaction.
Usually gets emitted along with alpha and beta particles.
One example of this reaction is the beta decay of Cobalt-60
_______________________________________________________________________
Cobalt-60 decay by beta emission to excited Nickel-60. Then excited 60Ni falls to stable ground state of 60Ni by
emission of 2 gamma rays
Example:
carbon-11
oxygen-15
How to write a balanced nuclear equation

Step 1: Write the ____________________________ of the nuclide that’s decaying.

Step 2: One of the products of this reaction is the ______________________________________________
(alpha, beta, or gamma).

Step 3: Figure out the other product. Because the law of conservation of mass does a pretty good job of
describing how the world works,
Decay Summary
Type of Radioactive Decay Particle Emitted Change in Mass Number Change in Atomic Number
Alpha Decay
Beta Decay
Gamma Decay
Balanced nuclear equation Example
Complete each of the following nuclear equation
1.
226
88Ra
2.
38
19K
→ 42He + ______________________
→ __________________ + −10β
3. ____________________ + 10n →
15
7N
+ 11H
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear fission occurs when ____________, _______________
_____________ (usually isotopes of uranium and plutonium)
are __________________________________ into smaller,
more stable atoms. During this process, huge amounts of
__________________________________________________.
How does Nuclear Fission work?



Fission happens when the nuclei are ______________________________________________.
The large nuclei split into ____________________________ smaller nuclei, releasing neutrons, and a large
amount of _______________.
A __________________________ can be created, and a _____________________ amount of energy can
be release in a very _____________ amount of time.
Nuclear Fission in Real Life



__________________________________ are
powered by fission reaction.
Since a very large amount of energy can be released
in a very short amount of time, fission must be
controlled!
A _____________________ is inserted into the
reaction in order to _________________________,
and help keep the chain reaction from multiplying.
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is the opposite of fission. Nuclear fusion occurs when
________________________________________________________ to
form larger, more stable atoms. This type of reaction releases even
______________________________________________ bomb.
Nuclear Fusion in Real Life


Fusion is hard to use in practical applications because it requires
_______________________________________________ (108K).
Such extreme temperatures exist, however, in stars, and fusion is responsible for the
______________________________________________________________________.
Where does the energy come from?
The energy released from fission and fusion comes from the ________________________________________.
Law of conservation of energy and law of conservation of mass… ____________ the larger _______________
_________ up into smaller nuclei, some ____________ is __________. ______________________ for that
loss, the __________________________________.
Half-life



Half-life: is the ________________________ it takes for __________________ of a radioisotope
_______________ to __________ into its products.
During one half-life, half of the original sample will decay.
The ____________ the half-life time, the ____________________ the isotope is going to be.
Example:
The half-life of the radioisotope strontium-90 is 29 years.
If you had 10 grams of strontium-90 today, how much would you have 29 years from now?
How much would be left in 58 years?