1. Nuclear Stability Notes

2. Nuclear Stability Notes
The type of symbol used to represent any atom is:
The element symbol (found on periodic table)
A superscript number listed before the symbol (represents the atomic mass)
A subscript number listed before the symbol (represents the atomic #)
Carbon-12 atom

3. Nuclear Stability Notes
A nucleus is made up of protons (+1 charge) and neutrons (0 charge).
Q--Why do protons stay together when positive charges repel each other?
A--The main reason is because of a force called Strong Force

4. Nuclear Stability Notes
Strong Force is exerted by anything with mass (protons and neutrons) to attract other masses together.
Strong force will only work within a very short distance.

5. Nuclear Stability Notes
Neutrons act as insulation, since they have no charge to push protons away, but have strong force to bring other nucliides (protons and neutrons) together.

6. Nuclear Stability Notes
As a general rule, a nucleus will need a neutron/proton ratio of 3:2 (or 1.5) in order to stay together.
This rule is more precise for larger nuclei. (see page 866).

7. Nuclear Stability Notes
Of all known isotopes of natural elements (about 1500), only 250 of them are stable.
All of these stable isotopes have an atomic number in between 1 and 82.

8. Nuclear Stability Notes
The amount of energy that keeps a nucleus together is called the Binding Energy.
This amount of energy (per nucleon) is higher for nuclei that are stable than it would be for unstable nuclei.
It is measured in units called “Joules” or J.

9. Nuclear Stability Notes

10. Nuclear Stability Notes
The amount of binding energy for a nucleus can be calculated using E = mc2.
This equation states that mass can actually be converted into energy (during nuclear reactions).

11. Nuclear Stability Notes

13. Nuclear Stability Notes
The mass of a nucleus will be less than the mass of all of the protons and neutrons making it up. The difference is called the mass defect, which is converted into energy if the nucleus is formed.

14. If the mass that changes is very small, will it release much energy?

15. Nuclear Stability Notes
Energy = (change in mass--called mass defect) x (speed of light)2
See example on page 617.

16. Nuclear Stability Notes
need to know:
speed of light = 3.00 x 108 m/s
(speed of light)2 = 9.00 x 1016 m2/s2
conversion factor for amu to kg = x kg/amu
mass of H atom (close to mass of proton)= amu
mass of neutron = amu