1. Natural Transmutation
Aim Nuke 3 – When an element goes through natural transmutation, what is created?

2. Radiation Emissions When natural transmutation occurs
A radioactive particle is released
changing the radioisotope into a totally different element
Conservation of Matter applies
What you start with equals what you end up with
The sum of the mass numbers and atomic numbers on the left of the reaction (reactants)
equals the sum of the mass numbers and atomic numbers on the right (products)

3. Alpha decay
Transmutation (change) with release of an alpha (a) particle
A helium nucleus missing electrons
Large mass (4 amu) and a charge of +2
A chunk of the nucleus is spit off
Example
238U  Th He
Parent daughter radioactive
nuclei nuclei emission

4. Other examples of alpha decay
238U  4He Th
226Rn  4He Po
3. 239Pu  4He U

5. Transmutation (change) with the release of a beta (b-) particle
Beta decay
Transmutation (change) with the release of a beta (b-) particle
A high energy electron (tiny mass, -1)
A neutron breaks into a proton and a fast moving electron
Example
234Th  Pa e
Parent daughter radioactive
nuclei nuclei emission

6. Examples of beta decay 14C  0e + 14 N 6 -1 7 2. 42K  0e + 42 Ca
2. 42K  0e Ca
3. 16N  0e O

7. Transmutation (change) with the release of a positron (b+) particle
Positron decay
Transmutation (change) with the release of a positron (b+) particle
A piece of antimatter (a high energy electron with a positive charge)
Tiny mass, +1 charge
A neutron breaks into a proton and a positron
Example
37K  Ar e
Parent daughter emission

8. Examples of positron decay
37Ca  0e K
2. 19Ne  0e F
3. 53Fe  0 e Mn

9. Large amounts of EM energy released Gamma rays
Gamma decay
Large amounts of EM energy released
Gamma rays
similar to x-rays in energy
Only stopped by layers of metals or concrete
No change in the nucleus except: lowers the energy of the nucleus, making it more stable
Example
99mTc  0g + 99Tc

10. Practice 238U  4He + 234Th 92 2 90 2. 226Ra  4He + 222 Rn 88 2 86
2. 226Ra  4He Rn
3. 3H  0 e He
4. 19Ne  0e F
5. 14C  0 e N

11. Aim Nuke 3 – What is artificial transmutation?

12. Artificial Transmutation The creation of man-made radioisotopes
Involves the high energy collision of one particle into another
Results in new elements being formed
Can also release large amounts of energy in the process
Example:
14N He  O p

13. Artificial Transmutation
Particle accelerators
Also known as atom smashers
They use magnetic and electric fields to accelerate or “push” charged particles
This allows particles to crash together to gain enough energy to overcome forces in the nucleus
Analogy
shoot a bullet at a clock
it shatters
The pieces that fly out tell us what’s in it

14. Other examples of artificial transmutation
Example 1 - What is the nuclear equation for the bombardment of nitrogen-14 nuclei with alpha particles to produce artificially transmuted oxygen-17?
14N He  18 O e

15. Other examples of artificial transmutation
Ex 2 – aluminum-27 is bombarded with alpha particles to produce radioactive phosphorus-30
What does the nuclear equation look like?
27Al He  30 P + 1n