Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. PHYSICAL SCIENCE sixth edition Bill W. Tillery Chapter 13 Nuclear Reactions
Homework Assignment Chap 13 Read p Applying the Concepts (p 380): 1 – 9, 13, 31, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 45
Nuclear reactor with top and control rods removed
Nuclear energy usage for electricity, 2004
Fig Discovery of radioactivity by Becquerel (1896) Chemical reactions involve the outer electrons in atoms Nuclear reactions involve the inner nucleus of an atom
ParticleCompositionChargePenetration Alphaα 2 protons and 2 neutrons 2+ stopped by paper Betaβ an electron 1- stopped by aluminum Gammaγ pure energy 0 stopped by lead Radioactive particles
Relative penetrating abilities of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation
nucleus Proton and neutron called “nucleons”
Atomic number (Z) = number of protons in nucleus Mass number (A) = number of protons + number of neutrons = atomic number (Z) + number of neutrons Isotopes - atoms of the same element (X) with different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei X A Z U U Mass Number Atomic Number Element Symbol
Fig The three isotopes of hydrogen H 1 1 H (D) 2 1 H (T) 3 1
Fig Plot of neutrons versus protons Band of Stability
Fig Types of radioactive emission depends on neutron-to-proton ratio Unstable nuclei undergo radioactive decay to form more stable nuclei Nothing can change the rate of radioactive decay
Fig Radioactive decay series for uranium-238 (One of three naturally occurring series)
Fig Radioactive decay of a hypothetical isotope with a half-life of 1 day
Origins of Radiation Exposure in the US Natural background (81%): Biggest source: Radon-222 Medicine (15%) Consumer products (4%) Can’t see it Can’t smell it Can’t taste it Can’t hear it Can’t feel it
Zone 1 (red zones)Highest Potential Zone 2 (orange zones)Moderate Potential Zone 3 (yellow zones)Low Potential
Biological Effects of Radiation Radiation absorbed dose (rad) Roentgen equivalent for man (rem) Units of Radiation Chemically inert, uncharged noble gas Produced from decay of uranium-238 Seeps out of rocks and soil Builds up indoors and in mines T 1/2 is 3.8 days Decays by alpha particle emission Produces short-lived solid alpha-emitters - Polonium 218 and 214 Radon-222
Fig Working parts of a Geiger counter
Table 10.1