Name: ________________________________________Date: _______________________Period:

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Due Date: 02/11/15
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Nuclear Chemistry Study Guide

Nuclear vs. Chemical Reactions
Reaction

Nuclear or Chemical?
Chemical

N2 + 3H2 2NH3

How do you know?

Coefficients and Subscripts

Same elements in
products/reactants

New element in product

Atomic mass and atomic #
in reaction

Nuclear

1. Which of the following is a characteristic of chemical reactions?

a.
b.
c.
d.

The same elements are present on both sides

There could be different elements on each side
There is no yield arrow
Subscripts can be changed

2. True or False: nuclear equations are not balanced. ______False-Atomic mass and # are balanced__________
Types of Nuclear Decay
Brief Description

Symbol:

Penetrating Power (Ability to enter the body)

Not very penetrating-sheet of paper can

Alpha

Radioactive source that

He or

Radiation

gives off helium nuclei

block . Dangerous when ingested

Beta

or alpha particles
An electron resulting

beta particles are more penetrating than

Radiation

from the breaking

alpha particles- pass through paper but are

apart of a neutron

stopped by aluminum foil or thin pieces of

wood.

Gamma

A high energy photon

Radiation

emitted by a

Very dangerous-only blocked by several

meters of concrete or centimeters of lead

radioisotope
3. Which of the following conclusions is NOT supported by the radiation passages?
a. Gamma rays occur along with alpha and beta particles
b. Alpha radiation emits helium nuclei
c. Alpha radiation emits electrons
d. Beta radiation emits electrons
4. Which of the following conclusions is NOT supported by the radiation passages?
a. Beta particles are more penetrating than alpha particles
b. Alpha particles are more penetrating than beta particles
c. Gamma rays are more penetrating than alpha particles
d. Gamma rays are more penetrating than beta particles
5. Which of the following conclusions is consistent with the information from the
radiation passages?
a. Alpha radiation is the most harmful to humans
b. Beta radiation is the most harmful to humans
c. Gamma radiation is the most harmful to humans
d. All types of radiation are equally harmful to humans

Predict Products of Nuclear Decay: Use the reference table on the last page to help
you answer these questions
Show the decay reaction. Include the products and reactants.
1. Thorium 232
232

90

Th

He +

228

88

Ra

2. Hydrogen 3
3
0
3
1H -1e + 2He
8

3. Beryllium 8
Be 42He + 42He
4. Americium 242 (Gamma)

242
95

Am

0
0

+ 24295Am

Decay Strings
2

Thorium-232 undergoes radioactive decay until a stable isotope is reached. There are 5 steps in this series, and
each product becomes the reactant for the next step. Complete the series of steps below.
a. Thorium-232 (alpha)
232

90

Th 42He + 22888 Ra

b. Beta
228

Ra 0-1e + 22889Ac

88

c. Beta
228

89

Ac 0-1e + 22890Th

d. Alpha
228

90

Th

42He + 22488Ra

e. Alpha
224

88

Ra 42He + 22086Rn

Half-Life
A f = Ai

A f = Amount of Isotope final

1
2

()

n=

A i= Amount of Isotope intial

Time Total
Time1 HL

n=Number of half lives

1. Actinium-226 has a half-life of 29 hours. If 100 mg of actinium-226

disintegrates over a period of 58 hours, how many mg of actinium-226
will remain?
G (Given)
Time in 1 HL = 29 hours

Ai=100mg
3

Total Time= 58 hours

U (Unknown)
Af

E (Equation)

Time Total
1
n=
A f =A i
Time1 HL
2

()

S (Substitute)

n= 58 hours/29 hours = 2 hours

Af = (100mg) x

( 12 )

S (Solve)
Af = 25mg

Write answer as a complete sentence: After 58 hours, 25 mg of Actinium-226 would

remain.

Radioactive Decay Reference Table:

Radioactive
Element
Hydrogen (H)
Beryllium (Be)
Beryllium (Be)
Thorium (Th)
Thorium (Th)
Thorium (Th)
Thorium (Th)
Americum (Am)
Americum (Am)

Atomic
Number (Z)

Atomic Mass
Number (A)

Decay
Type

1
4
4
90
90
90
90
95
95

3
8
10
228
229
232
234
241
242

Beta
Alpha
Beta
Alpha
Alpha
Alpha
Beta
Alpha
Alpha,
Gamma