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Exploring Nuclear Chemistry: Radioactive Decay and Isotopes

Discover the fascinating world of nuclear chemistry, from radioactive decay processes to isotopes and nuclear equations. Learn about alpha, beta, gamma decay, positron production, electron capture, and more. Practice with Chapter 18 concepts.

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Exploring Nuclear Chemistry: Radioactive Decay and Isotopes

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  1. Nuclear Chemistry Radioactive Decay

  2. The Nucleus • IT’S TINY (tiny!) radius≈ 10-13 cm • Extremely Dense ~ 1.6 x 1014 g/mL • Made of nucleons (neutrons and protons)

  3. Isotopes • Recall: Mass Number Element Symbol Atomic Number (From periodic table) Atoms that have identical atomic numbers but different mass numbers are called isotopes Example: The common isotopes of Carbon are:

  4. Radioactive Decay • Radioactive: Nuclei that spontaneously decompose • Form a different nucleus • Produce one or more particles • Described by a nuclear equation: • Ex/ • Both atomic number and mass number are conserved • All nuclides w/ 84 protons or more are unstable • Light nuclides are stable when Z = A-Z (1:1 p/n ratio) p. 879 +

  5. Alpha Decay α • Alpha Particle: Helium nucleus • Alpha particle production = common form of radioactive decay for heavy elements. • Ex/ Thorium-230 decay +

  6. α-decay Helium Nucleus

  7. Beta decay β • Beta Particle: an electron • Beta particle production = most common type of decay in which the mass number remains constant • The net effect of β-particle production is changing a neutron to a proton • Ex/ Iodine-131 decay +

  8. β-decay Same # of nucleons  changed a neutron to a proton (Think of a neutron is a proton and an electron)

  9. Gamma ray production γ • Gamma ray: a high energy photon • (photon=basic “unit/particle” of EM radiation) • Release of gamma rays is a way for a nucleus w/ excess energy to reach its ground state • Often accompanies nuclear decay (like alpha-decay) • Ex/ Uranium-238 decay + + 2

  10. Positron Production + Beta decay with gamma ray production Gamma ray production with no change to isotope (nucleons are packed more tightly together)

  11. Radiation Penetration

  12. Positron Production • Positron: particle w/ same mass as electron but opposite charge • Occurs when neutron/proton ratio is too small (below the “zone of stability”) • The net effect of positron production is changing a proton to a neutron • Ex/ Sodium-22 decay +

  13. Electron Capture e- • Electron: • Occurs when an inner orbital electron is captured by the nucleus • Gamma rays are always released with electron capture to get rid of excess energy • Ex/ + +

  14. Practice • Chapter 18 • 9-12; 15&16

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