Nuclear Chemistry Bravo – 15,000 kilotons

TX Standards Students can describe the characteristics of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. Students can describe radioactive decay process in terms of balanced nuclear equations. Students can compare fission and fusion reactions.

Nuclear Symbols Element Mass number symbol (p+ + no) Atomic number (number of p+)

Nuclear Binding Energy protons and neutrons in the nucleus are held together by nuclear forces that overcome the electromagnetic repulsion between the protons.

Nuclear Stability Decay will occur in such a way as to return a nucleus to the band (line) of stability.

Alpha Radiation Alpha decay is limited to VERY large, nuclei such as those in heavy metals.

Beta Radiation Beta decay converts a neutron into a proton.

Types of Radioactive Decay Alpha (a, He): helium nucleus Beta (b, e): Gamma ray (g):

Alpha Particle Emission Beta Particle Emission Gamma Ray Emission Symbol or Mass Heavy Light No Mass How it changes the nucleus Decreases the mass number by 4 Decreases the atomic number by 2 Converts a neutron into a proton Increases atomic number by 1 No change to the nucleus Penetration Low Medium High Protection provided by… Skin Paper, clothing Lead Danger

Fission Fission - Splitting a heavy nucleus into two nuclei with smaller mass numbers.

Deuterium – Tritium Fusion Reaction Fusion - Combining two light nuclei to form a heavier, more stable nucleus.

Energy and Mass Nuclear changes occur with small but measurable losses of mass. The lost mass is called the mass defect, and is converted to energy according to Einstein’s equation: DE = Dmc2 Dm = mass defect DE = change in energy c = speed of light Because c2 is so large, even small amounts of mass are converted to enormous amount of energy.

A Fission Reactor