Academic Chemistry
Nuclear Chemistry Review
Date:
Name: ~--~
Period:
RadiOactivity
1. Complete the following table to show basic differences between chemical and
nuclear reactions.
Type of Reaction
Is Nucleus of Atom
Changed?
Chemical
Nuclear
2. Use the following terms to complete the flow chart below which describes the
radioactive decay process.
¯ Stable
° Unstable
¯ Neutrons
¯ Nuclear Radiation
The presence of too many or too few
to an unstable nucleus.
relative to protons leads
At some point in time, an unstable nucleus will undergo .a reaction and lose
energy by emitting .~~ (F_A-P-~I ,~’~’tt~ V’l .
During the.process of radioactive decay, an I~g’~)Lt~
radioi,sot.ope of one element is transformed eventually into a
isotope of a different element.
¯ 6 .T~_ L~ ~
3. Complete the following table showing some characteristics of the main types of
radiation commonly emitted during radioactive decay.
Type
Consists of
2 protbns and 2
neutrons
Electron
Pure ~nergy
Symbol
Penetrating power
(high, moderate, or
low)
Protective
shielding required
(concrete, paper,
wood, etc...)
4. Look at the figure below, which shows the ali~ha decay of uranium-238 to .
thorium-234. Use the figure to answer the following questions.
, ~Th + ~He (a emission)
Uranium-23B
Thorium- 2M ’ Alpha
particle
a. Compare the nuclear symbol for Uranium to Thorium. What is the change
in atomic number after the alpha decay? -- 2-b. Compare the nuclear symbol for’Uranium to Thorium. What is the change
in mass number after the alpha decay? ~- ~
5. Look at the figure below, which shows the beta decay of carbon-14 to nitrogen-14.
Use the figure to answer the following questions.
oe
~IC ~ ~N + _~ (~emission)
Carbon-14 Nitmgen-l~ ’ ’ Beta
(radioactive} (stahle)
""
particle
a. Compare the nuclear symbol for Carbon to Nitrogen. What is the change
in atomic number after the beta decay? ~ [ ,,,
Compare the nuclear symbol for Carbon to Nitrogen. What is the change
in mass number after thebeta decay? ~’~?’~ /~z\~ i ,
6. Look at the diagram below. Below each material indicate with a checkmark which
type of radiation-alpha, beta, or gamma-can be stopped by each material.
Paper
Lead block
Wood
Lead or concrete
Radioactive
source
[~-~ alpha
~-’-~ alpha
[~alpha
[---]beta
[~beta
[~beta
~-] gamma
~--~ gamma
[~gamma
7. The decay below shows how a radioactive form of potassium found in many
minerals decays into argon. Fill in the missing mass and atomic numbers.
+
0
> Ar
v~
8. Use the following labels tOi complete the diagram below: fission, unstable nucleus,
neutrons/chain reaction.
235 II
92 "
Uranium-235
(fissionable)
236 ~’
II
92
Uranium-236
(very unstable)
142 ~
56 ~"
Barium-142
9. The figure below shows a basic diagram of a nuclear reactor. Use the figure below
in order to answer the following questions.
Containment
shell
output
Control
rods
Fuel
rods~
Which part of the diagram contains the nuclear fuel? (lfft~-~-O ~
What are the two parts in the reactor, which control the speed of the
reaction, one by slowing down neutrons and the other by. absorbing
them? C~(Vgo~ V~C_,b..v"’,~Y"
¢~’h"O~ (o6t<~
What is the role oft_he coolant (what does it do to the water]?
10. Complete the following table, which identifies similarities and difference in
nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
Type
General process by which
it occurs
Fission
Fusion
all
Where it is used to
produce energy
11. Manganese-56 undergoes a beta decay. The half-life is 2.6 hours.
a. How many half lives have occurred after 10.4 hours?
io.4
,,,:
.
b. What is the mass of manganese-56 in a 1_.0 rrfg sample left after 10.4 hours.
#t½
Amount Time
.I
12. Iodin~e, 126 undergoes a beta decay. The half-lit
a. How many half-lives have occurred after 39 days?
b. If there are 8 grams currentll ,f~t (gt 39 days), how much was originally
p#rgsent at time zero? AI~,I4~..)
Tim~ ’
13. P~olonium.218 undergoes an a~t~decay.
a. Write the nuclear equation below:
~~"
b. If the original amount is 500 grams, and the current amount left is 62.5 grams.
How many half-lives have passed?
#t ½
Amount
Time
c.
f-life is 3.05 minutes, now much~me has passed7
3 × o(:::,,,., ,,,,
14. Bismuth-214 undergoes a beta decay.
a. Write the nuclear equation below:
b. If the original amount is 10 grams, and the current amount left is 2.5 grams. How
many half-lives have passed? (~
#t ½
,~
o’:
Amount
/0
Time,,
-
~)
c. If the total amount of time passed is :39.4 minutes, what s the length of one half-
15. Complete the follo..wing nuclear equations: