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UNIT 14
NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY

NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
The study of reactions involving changes in atomic
nuclei.
CHEMICAL vs NUCLEAR REACTIONS

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NUCLEAR STABILITY

NUCLEUS
• Occupies a very small portion of total volume of
an atom
• Contains most of the atom’s mass (because of
protons and neutrons)
• Exceedingly high density

What holds the particles together so tightly???

NUCLEAR STABILITY

Stability of any nucleus is determined by the

difference between Coulombic repulsion and the
short-range attraction.

• If attraction outweighs repulsion, the nucleus will

be stable.
• If repulsion prevails, the nucleus will undergo
decomposition emitting particles and/or
radiation (radioactive decay).

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NUCLEAR STABILITY
Neutron-to-proton ratio (n:p) – the principal factor
for determining a stable nucleus.

• Atoms of low atomic number – n:p closer to 1

• As atomic number increases, n:p becomes
greater than 1.
This deviation arises because large number
of neutrons is needed to stabilize the
nucleus by counteracting the strong
repulsion between protons.

ZONE OF STABILITY

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RULES in PREDICTING NUCLEAR STABILITY

• Nuclides with atomic numbers higher than 83 are
radioactive.
• Certain numbers of neutrons and protons are extra stable
n or p = 2, 8, 20, 50, 82 and 126
• Nuclei with even numbers of both protons and neutrons are
more stable than those with odd numbers of neutron and
protons

Atomic number (Z) = number of protons in nucleus

Mass number (A) = number of protons + number of neutrons
= atomic number (Z) + number of neutrons
Mass Number A
ZX
Element Symbol
Atomic Number

SYMBOLS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES

proton neutron electron positron α particle
1p 0β 4α
1
or 11H 1n
0
0e
-1 or -1
0e
1
4He
2
or 2

A 1 1 0 0 4

Z 1 0 -1 +1 2

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TYEPS OF RADIOACTIVE DECAY

• Alpha production (α):

• Beta production (β):

• Gamma ray production (γ):

• Positron production:

• Electron capture:

BALANCING NUCLEAR EQUATIONS

1. Conserve mass number (A).
The sum of protons plus neutrons in the products must
equal the sum of protons plus neutrons in the reactants.
235U + 1n 138Cs + 96 Rb +2 1n
92 0 55 37 0

235 + 1 = 138 + 96 + 2x1

2. Conserve atomic number (Z) or nuclear charge.

The sum of nuclear charges in the products must equal
the sum of nuclear charges in the reactants.
235U + 1n 138Cs + 96 Rb +2 1n
92 0 55 37 0

92 + 0 = 55 + 37 + 2x0

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EXERCISE
Balance the following nuclear equations:

1. 212Po
84
208Pb +
82 X

137Cs 137Ba +
2. 55 56 X

20 20
3. 11 Na 10 Ne + X

NUCLEAR REACTIONS
• Radioactive decay
• Emission of particles spontaneously;
release of radioactive particles
• Nuclear transmutation
• Change undergone by the nucleus as a
result of the bombardment by neutrons
or other particles

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RADIOACTIVE DECAY SERIES

(Series of Alpha and Beta Decays)
Spontaneous emission of particles by unstable nuclei.

NUCLEAR TRANSMUTATION
• The change of one element into another.
27 + 4α 30 + 1n
27 (α,n) 30P
13 Al 2 15 P 0 13 Al 15

• Different from radioactive decay; nuclear

transmutation is brought by the collision of
two particles.
• Cyclotron particle accelerators

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Schematic Diagram of Particle Accelerator

Nuclear Transmutation

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EXERCISE
Write the balanced equation for the following
nuclear reactions:

106Pd(α,p) 109 Ag
1. 46 47

55 (n,γ) X
2. 25 Mn

3. X (p,α) 12
6C

USES OF RADIOACTIVITY
• Radiotracers
• Radioactive nuclides that are introduced into organisms
in food or drugs and whose pathways can be traced by
monitoring their radioactivity.

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NUCLEAR FISSION
• A nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom
splits into smaller parts.

NUCLEAR FUSION
• Combining two light nuclei to form a heavier, more
stable nucleus.

BIOLOGOCAL EFFECTS OF RADIATION

• Depend on:
• Energy of the radiation
• Penetrating ability of the radiation
• Ionizing ability of the radiation
• Chemical properties of the radiation
source

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