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Unit Five Part B. Nuclear Chemistry. Radioactivity. There are two main types of radioactivity: Natural and Induced. Natural Radioactivity. Occurs in nature Usually large, unstable nuclei Occurs in three ways: Decay (alpha particle) Decay (beta particle) Decay (gamma ray).
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Unit Five Part B Nuclear Chemistry
Radioactivity • There are two main types of radioactivity: Natural and Induced
Natural Radioactivity • Occurs in nature • Usually large, unstable nuclei • Occurs in three ways: • Decay (alpha particle) • Decay (beta particle) • Decay (gamma ray)
Alpha Decay • A helium nucleus is released from the nucleus. ( ) • The mass decreases by 4 • The atomic number decreases by 2 (Because the He nucleus has 2p+ and 2no) • Alpha radiation can be stopped by a piece of paper. Cannot penetrate skin. Not dangerous.
Alpha Decay Example Notice that the uranium has changed into a new element, thorium.
Beta Decay • An electron is released from the nucleus when a neutron becomes a proton. • The mass is unaffected. (the mass of a neutron is roughly equal to the mass of a proton) • The atomic number is increased by 1. • Harder to stop and more dangerous.
Beta Decay Example Notice that carbon has changed into nitrogen.
Gamma Decay • Pure energy is released from the nucleus. • The mass and atomic number are unaffected. • Stopped by lead. The most harmful to living tissue.
Gamma Decay Example No new element formed. Gamma radiation (energy) released.
Induced Radioactivity • Particles are slammed together to cause transmutation of stable elements. (Nuclear Bombardment) • Discovered by Rutherford in 1919.
Radioactive Decay of U-238 • Uranium-238 becomes Thorium-234 • Transmutation by Alpha Decay
Radioactive Decay of U-238 Thorium-234 becomes Protactinium-234 Transmutation by Beta Decay
Radioactive Decay of U-238 Protactinium-234 becomes Uranium-234 Transmutation by Beta Decay
Radioactive Decay of U-238 Uranium-234 becomes Thorium-230 Transmutation by Alpha Decay
Radioactive Decay of U-238 Thorium-230 becomes Radium-226 Transmutation by Alpha Decay
Radioactive Decay of U-238 Radium –226 becomes Radon-222 Transmutation by Alpha Decay
Radioactive Decay of U-238 Radon-222 becomes Polonium-218 Transmutation by Alpha Decay
Radioactive Decay of U-238 Polonium-218 becomes Lead-214 Transmutation by Alpha Decay
Radioactive Decay of U-238 Lead-214 becomes Bismuth-214 Transmutation by Beta Decay
Radioactive Decay of U-238 Bismuth-214 becomes Polonium-214 Transmutation by Beta Decay
Radioactive Decay of U-238 Polonium-214 becomes Lead-210 Transmutation by Alpha Decay
Radioactive Decay of U-238 Lead-210 becomes Bismuth-210 Transmutation by Beta Decay
Radioactive Decay of U-238 Bismuth-210 becomes Polonium-210 Transmutation by Beta Decay
Radioactive Decay of U-238 Polonium-210 becomes Lead-206 Transmutation by Alpha Decay Lead-206 is stable. (phew!)
Half-Life • The time it takes for half of the atoms in a given radioactive sample to decay into a more stable isotope. • This number is different for each kind of isotope of any kind of element. • Can be calculated because atoms decay at a predictable rate. • Half lives can range from fractions of a second to millions of years.
Half-Life • Two formulas will help you solve half life problems: 1. Half-Life = Total time n 2. Final Mass = Total Mass 2 n (n = # decay cycles)
Example Problems • The half-life of technetium is 6.00 hours. What mass of Tc-99 remains from a 10.0 gram sample after 24.0 hours. • First, calculate the number of half-life cycles that have occurred in the time given. n = Total time n = 24.0 hrs n = 4 Half-Life 6.00 hrs • Next, use the value of n to calculate the remaining mass of the sample. Final Mass = Total Mass = 10.0g = 10.0g 2n 24 16 = 0.625g Tc-99
How about another one??? • A 50.0g sample of N-16 decays to 12.5g in 14.4s. What is its half-life? • Final mass = Initial mass 2n 2n = Initial mass 2n = 50.0g n = log(4 ) n = 2 Final mass12.5g log(2) • Half-Life = Total Time n Half-Life = 14.4s 2 Half-Life = 7.20s 50.0g 1 half = 25.0g 2 half = 12.5 g
Sure, one more… why not? • There are 5.0g of I-131 left after 40.35 days. How many grams were in the original sample if its half-life is 8.07 days? Final Mass = Total Mass 2 n 1st : How many cycles have occurred? 40.35 / 8.07 = 5 cycles. 2nd: Rearrange the formula to solve for the original total mass. Total Mass = Final Mass x 2n
So, solve it already!!! 3rd: Solve Total Mass = 5.0g x 25 Total Mass = 5.0g x 32 Total Mass = 160g
Shall we check it???(of course) 160.0g Total Mass At the end of one half life = 80.0g (8.07days) At the end of two cycles = 40.0g (16.14 days) At the end of three cycles = 20.0g (24.21 days) At the end of four cycles = 10.0g (32.28 days) At the end of five cycles = 5.0g (40.35 days)
Using Radioisotopes • Since decay occurs at a predictable rate, we can use the ratio of decayed to undecayed isotopes to… • Determine the age of Organic Matter with Carbon – 14 (Up to 30,000 yrs) • Determine the age of Rocks (and therefore other earth structures) with Uranium – 238 (Millions of yrs.)
More uses for radioisotopes… • Tracers used to detect structure and function of organs (thyroid, gall bladder, GI tract, etc…) • Can also be used to track movement of silt in rivers and nutrient uptake in plants. • Cancer treatment • Food preservation • Sensors in Smoke Detectors • Starters in Fluorescent lamps • Nuclear fuel for power plants
Detection of Radioactivity • Detected with a Geiger Counter. (When ions strike the cylinder of the Geiger counter, it emits an audible click.)
Detection of Radiation • Dosimeter – measures the total amount of radiation that a person has received. Works because photographic film is sensitive to radiation. Usually is worn like a badge. The film is later developed and the exposure to radiation can be measured. • Unit used to measure radiation exposure in humans is the rem. (Stands for Roentgen Equivalent for Man) (Roentgen discovered X-rays.)
Biological Effects of Radiation • Destruction of tissue especially blood and lymph which cells multiply rapidly. • Causes various cancers. • Direct damage to an organism is called Somatic Damage. • Damage that affects reproductive cells is called Genetic Damage. This leads to birth defects in offspring.
Nuclear Fission • A large nucleus is split into two smaller nuclei of approximately equal mass. • The fission of 4.5g of U-235 will satisfy the average person’s energy needs for an entire year. (Equal to about 15 tons of coal.)
Nuclear Fission • The total mass of the products in a fission reaction is slightly less than the mass of the starting materials. • Law of Conservation of Matter does not apply to fission reactions! • This small amount of “missing” mass is converted into a huge amount of energy. (E = mc2) c=300,000,000m/s
Nuclear Fission • A fission reaction can produce a Chain Reaction because each reaction releases high speed neutrons, each capable of starting another fission reaction. • Chain reactions make the fission process sustainable for use in Nuclear Power Plants.
Nuclear Fusion • Two small nuclei join to form a large nucleus. • Some mass is converted into energy (even more than fission reactions) • Difficult to produce and control. To overcome the repulsion between nuclei, they must be heated to 40 million kelvins. For this reason, they are sometimes called Thermonuclear Reactions.
Nuclear Fusion • Thermonuclear reactions create the energy produced by the sun and other stars. • Thermonuclear reactions are the source of the destructive power of a hydrogen bomb. • Not (yet?) sustainable for use in nuclear power plants.