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Published byTheodore Hampton Modified over 9 years ago
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RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS
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A Quick Review What makes carbon carbon? What defines an element? The number of protons!!!
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How to make carbon not carbon Chemical reaction involve only electrons Nuclear reactions involve the particles in the nucleus (Protons and Neutrons)
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Radioactive Radioactive decay: atomic nuclei of unstable isotopes release fast-moving particles and energy
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Discovery 1896 French scientist Henri Becquerel Accidently by studying a mineral containing U
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Becquerel’s Accident Mineral in sunlight gave off energy Energy could expose film Stored in a dark place and film was still exposed Sunlight was not needed Where did the energy come from?
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Radiation U spontaneously gives off energy, we call this radiation, all the time We call this type of radiation radioactivity
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Radioactive Elements Polonium Radium Uranium
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Types of Radioactive Decay Alpha Decay Beta Decay Gamma Decay (Radiation)
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Alpha Decay Isotope gives off an Alpha Particle Alpha Particle: 2 Neutrons and 2 Protons Losses 4 mass Losses 2 atomic number Thorium – 232 gives off an Alpha Particle and becomes radium - 228
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Beta Decay Isotope gives off a Beta Particle Beta Particle: Neutron turns into a proton, this shoots out an electron Mass does not change Atomic number goes up 1 Carbon – 14 becomes nitrogen - 14
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Gamma Decay Happens with Alpha and Beta Decay Element gives off high energy ways called gamma rays No charge Does not change the mass Does not change the atomic number
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Effects of Radiation Alpha particles move fast and stopped by colliding with other atoms Causes a bad burns
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Effects of Radiation Beta particles move faster and more penetrating (can not pass through 5mm sheet of Al) Travels into the body and damages cells
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Effects of Radiation Gamma rays travel faster yet and penetrate even more Goes through the human body delivering intense energy and damage to cells
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Using Radioactive Isotopes Determining age of natural things Tracing chemical reactions and industrial possesses Diagnosing and treating disease Providing sources of energy
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Dating Not all atoms decay at once Happens randomly (can not predict) Can measure when half the elements will decay by This measure is called half-life
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Half-Life Length of time needed for half of the items in a sample to decay Different for each isotope Range from less then a second to billions of years Pg 143
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Radioactive Dating Measure carbon – 14 in organic material After it dies it stops taking in carbon Count half-lives Gives an estimate of how old fossils and rock are.
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Older dating Carbon – 14 is only useful up to 60,000 yrs Use other elements for earlier materials Potassium – 40 Uranium - 238
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Science and Industry Tracers: chemicals that can be followed through the steps of a chemical reaction Phosphorus - 32 in plants Gamma rays detect weakness in metals Shows on photo film
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Medicine Tracers of technetium – 99 Diagnose problems in bones, kidneys, digestive system Radiation therapy Iodine - 131 Cancer cells Cobalt - 60
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Power Nuclear Power Plants Nuclear Submarines Uranium - 235
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Chernobyl
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Safe Use Radiation is harmful! Isolated clothing Bury in the ground Will decay according to half- life
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