1. Intro to Nuclear Chemistry http://www.chem.orst.edu/graduate/pics/Reactor.jpg

2. How does a nuclear reactor work? http://www.lanl.gov/science/1663/images/reactor.jpg

3. How does a small mass contained in this bomb cause…… Nuclear Bomb of 1945 known as “fat man” http://www.travisairmuseum.org/assets/images/fatman.jpg

4. …this huge nuclear explosion? http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/01200/Graphics/705px-Nuclear_fireball.jpg

5. Is there radon in your basement? http://a.abcnews.com/images/Blotter/abc_1radon_ad_070625_ssh.jpg

6. Notation

7. Nucleons Protons and Neutrons

8. The nucleons are bound together by the strong force.

9. Isotopes Atoms of a given element with: same #protons but different # neutrons

10. H H H http://education.jlab.org/glossary/isotope.html

11. Isotopes of certain unstable elements that spontaneously emit particles and energy from the nucleus. Radioactive Isotopes

12. Transmutation When the nucleus of one element is changed into the nucleus of another element. IT CAN ONLY HAPPEN IN A NUCLEAR REACTION!!!

13. Nuclear Reactions The chemical properties of the nucleus are independent of the state of chemical combination of the atom. In writing nuclear equations we are not concerned with the chemical form of the atom in which the nucleus resides. It makes no difference if the atom is as an element or a compound. Mass and charges MUST BE BALANCED!!!

14. Types of Radioactive Decay

18. Emission of alpha particles  : helium nuclei two protons and two neutrons charge +2 can travel a few inches through air can be stopped by a sheet of paper, clothing. Alpha Decay

19. Uranium Thorium

20. Alpha Decay http://education.jlab.org/glossary/alphadecay.gif

21. Alpha Decay: Loss of an  -particle (a helium nucleus) He 4242 U 238 92  Th 234 90 He 4242 +

22. Alpha Decay Mass decreases by 4 The remaining fragment has 2 less protons Alpha radiation is the least penetrating of all the nuclear radiation (it is the most massive one!)

23. Beta Decay: Loss of a  -particle (a high energy electron)  0−10−1 e 0−10−1 or I 131 53 Xe 131 54  + e 0−10−1

24. Beta Decay Beta particles  : electrons ejected from the nucleus when neutrons decay ( n -> p + +  - ) Beta particles have the same charge and mass as "normal" electrons.  0−10−1 e 0−10−1 or

25. Beta Decay Beta particles  : electrons ejected from the nucleus when neutrons decay n -> p + +  - Beta particles have the same charge and mass as "normal" electrons. Can be stopped by aluminum foil or a block of wood.  0−10−1 e 0−10−1 or

26. Beta Decay

27. Thorium Protactinium

28. Beta Decay Involves the conversion of a neutron in the nucleus into a proton and an electron. Beta radiation has high energies, can travel up to 300 cm in air. Can penetrate the skin

29. Beta decay Write the reaction of decay for C-14

30. Positron Emission When a proton is being converted to a neutron, a positron is produced. –Positron = positive electron

31. Types of Radioactive Decay Positron Emission = Loss of a positron (a particle that has the same mass as but opposite charge than an electron) e 0101 C 11 6  B 11 5 + e 0101 Atomic # decreases by 1 # of protons decreases by 1 # of neutrons increases by 1 Mass # remains the same

32. Gamma Emission: Loss of a  -ray (high-energy radiation that almost always accompanies the loss of a nuclear particle)  0000

33. Gamma radiation  electromagnetic energy that is released. Gamma rays are electromagnetic waves. They have no mass. Gamma radiation has no charge. –Most Penetrating, can be stopped by 1m thick concrete or a several cm thick sheet of lead. Gamma Decay

34. 3 Main Types of Radioactive Decay Alpha  Beta  Gamma 

38. Part II Nuclear Stability Half-Life

39. Nuclear Stability Depends on the neutron to proton ratio.

40. Band of Stability Number of Neutrons, (N) Number of Protons (Z)

41. What happens to an unstable nucleus? They will undergo decay The type of decay depends on the reason for the instability

42. What type of decay will happen if the nucleus contains too many neutrons? Beta Decay

43. Example: C  N + e In N-14 the ratio of neutrons to protons is 1:1 14 7 014 6

44. Nuclei with atomic number > 83 are radioactive

45. Radioactive Half-Life (t 1/2 ): The time required for one half of the nuclei in a given sample to decay. After each half life the mass of sample remaining is half. Different Isotopes have different half lives. Use table N

46. Common Radioactive Isotopes Isotope Half-Life Radiation Emitted Carbon-14 5,730 years  Radon-222 3.8 days  Uranium-235 7.0 x 108 years  Uranium-238 4.46 x 109 years 

47. Radioactive Half-Life After one half life there is 1/2 of original sample left. After two half-lives, there will be 1/2 of the 1/2 = 1/4 the original sample.

48. Table N provides us with a list of various nuclides, their decay modes, and their half-lifes. Using Table N, what is the decay mode and half-life for Radium-226?

49. Using Table N Table N indicates that Radium-226 undergoes alpha decay. Based on this we can write a balanced nuclear equation to represent this reaction: This tells us that for every atom of Radium that decays an atom of Radon is produced.

50. Using Half-life Table N also tells us that Radium-226 has a half-life of 1600 years. Starting with a 100g sample, after 1 half-life (or 1600 years), 50g remain. After another 1600 years, half of the 50g will remain (25g).

51. Graph of Amount of Remaining Nuclei vs Time A=A o e - t A

52. Example You have 100 g of radioactive C-14. The half-life of C-14 is 5730 years. How many grams are left after one half- life? Answer:50 g How many grams are left after two half- lives?

53. Problem If 80 g of a radioactive sample decays to 10 g in 30 min what is the element’s half life?

54. How many days will take a sample of I-131 to undergo three half life periods?

55. What is the total mass of Rn-222 remaining in an original mass 160 mg sample of Rn-222 after 19.1 days?

56. Measuring Radioactivity One can use a device like this Geiger counter to measure the amount of activity present in a radioactive sample. The ionizing radiation creates ions, which conduct a current that is detected by the instrument.

57. Transmutations To change one element into another. Only possible in nuclear reactions never in a chemical reaction. In order to modify the nucleus huge amount of energy are involved. These reactions are carried in particle accelerators or in nuclear reactors

58. Nuclear transmutations Alpha particles have to move very fast to overcome electrostatic repulsions between them and the nucleus. Particle accelerators or smashers are used. They use magnetic fields to accelerate the particles.

59. Types of nuclear reactions: fission and fusion The larger the binding energies, the more stable the nucleus is toward decomposition. Heavy nuclei gain stability (and give off energy) if they are fragmented into smaller nuclei. (FISSION)

60. Even greater amounts of energy are released if very light nuclei are combined or fused together. (FUSION)

62. Nuclear Fission Nuclear fission is the type of reaction carried out in nuclear reactors.

63. Nuclear fission: A large nucleus splits into several small nuclei when impacted by a neutron, and energy is released in this process

64. Nuclear Fission Bombardment of the radioactive nuclide with a neutron starts the process. Neutrons released in the transmutation strike other nuclei, causing their decay and the production of more neutrons.

65. Nuclear Fission This process continues in what we call a nuclear chain reaction.

66. Fission Chain Reactions One fission reaction can lead to more fission reactions in a process called a chain reaction. Example - The fission of Uranium-235

67. Nuclear Fission The splitting of a nucleus into smaller fragments is called nuclear fission. Heavy atoms (mass number>60) tend to break into smaller atoms, thereby increasing their stability. Nuclear fission releases a large amount of energy.

68. Nuclear Fusion The combining of atomic nuclei to form a larger atom is called fusion Nuclear fusion occurs in the sun where hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium 4 H + 2 0 e -  He + energy 1 1 2 4

69. Fusion 1 H + 1 H  2 H + 1 e + energy 1 H + 2 H  3 He + energy 3 He + 3 He  4 He + 2 1 H + energy Reaction that occurs in the sun Temperature 10 7 K

70. Nuclear Fusion Fusion would be a superior method of generating power. –The good news is that the products of the reaction are not radioactive. –The bad news is that in order to achieve fusion, the material must be in the plasma state at several million kelvins.

71. Fission is the release of energy by splitting heavy nuclei such as Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239 Fusion is the release of energy by combining two light nuclei such as deuterium and tritium How does a nuclear plant work? Each fission releases 2 or 3 neutrons These neutrons are slowed down with a moderator to initiate more fission events Control rods absorb neutrons to keep the chain reaction in check The goal of fusion research is to confine fusion ions at high enough temperatures and pressures, and for a long enough time to fuse This graph shows the exponential rate of progress over the decades Controlled Fission Chain Reaction Confinement Progress Magnetic Confinement uses strong magnetic fields to confine the plasma This is a cross-section of the proposed International Thermo- nuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Inertial Confinement uses powerful lasers or ion beams to compress a pellet of fusion fuel to the right temperatures and pressures This is a schematic of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) being built at Lawrence Livermore National Lab Nuclear Power Plant There are two main confinement approaches: The energy from the reaction drives a steam cycle to produce electricity Nuclear Power produces no greenhouse gas emissions; each year U.S. nuclear plants prevent atmospheric emissions totaling: 5.1 million tons of sulfur dioxide 2.4 million tons of nitrogen oxide 164 million tons of carbon Nuclear power in 1999 was the cheapest source of electricity costing 1.83 c/kWh compared to 2.04 c/kWh from coal D T D-T Fusion 4 He 3.52 MeV Neutron 14.1 MeV

72. Uses of radioisotopes Medicine Medical imaging – trace amounts of short half life isotopes can be ingested and the path of the isotope traced by the radiation given off cancer treatment – radiation kills cancerous cells more easily than healthy cells

73. Sterilization – γ – rays can be used to kill germs and hence sterilize food and plastic equipment Industry – used to trace blockages in pipes, or to test the thickness of materials (by putting a source on one side of the material and detector on the other)

74. Carbon dating Once a living organism dies, it is no longer taking in any Carbon. C 14 is radioactive, and decays over time. By measuring the activity of C 14 in an object and comparing it with the amount of C 14 which was present initially you can estimate when the organism died

77. Smoke detectors a radioactive source ionizes the air between two electrodes. Thus current flows between them If smoke particles enter this space they stick to the ions and the current is reduced. This reduced current triggers the alarm

78. Chemical Reactions Involve changes in electrons –Acids & Bases, combustion, displacement The same atoms appear on both sides of the reaction. Follows Dalton’s Law of Conservation of Mass Small amount of energy generated –Burning fossil fuels Nuclear Reactions Involve changes in the nucleus –Nuclear fusion, nuclear fission New atoms appear as products of the reaction. Breaks Dalton’s Law of Conservation of Mass Large amount of energy generated –1 million times more than chemical reactions –Nuclear fusion on the sun –Nuclear fission for reactors

79. Decay vs. Nuclear Reactions Alpha, beta, and gamma decay occur as ONE atom tries to increase it’s stability by getting rid of a few neutrons, or protons & neutrons. The product is an alpha, beta, or gamma particle and ONE new atom. There is only ONE thing on the left hand side. Nuclear reactions involve more than just getting rid of a few protons or neutrons. The new atoms produced are VERY different elements than the reactant. Nuclear reactions must be started, so there are 2 things on the left hand side. –Nuclear fission: makes 2 or more much smaller atoms –Nuclear fusion: makes 1 much larger atom