Chapter 25: Nuclear

Chemistry
Nuclear

Radiation
Nuclear Transformations
Fission and Fusion
Life Cycle of Stars

25 intense facts about Radiation

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzD1sExNybg

Uses of Radiation
Food that has
been exposed to
radiation must
have this
symbol on it.
Strawberries exposed to radiation have
a much longer shelf life than those that
are not.

Uses of Radiation

Radioactive
materials are used
to create x-rays on
photographic film.

Uses of Radiation

Smoke detectors
use a radioactive
material to detect
carbon and other
ionized gases that
are released when
something is
burning.

Radioactivity spontaneous
release of particles or rays from

an
unstable
nucleus.
Discovered
accidently
by Henri Becquerel, Marie

and Pierre Curie.

They found that some unstable nuclei were
breaking down spontaneously giving off particles
and rays of energy.
The process of a nucleus breaking down is called
radioactive decay.
Nuclei of unstable isotopes of atoms are called
radioisotopes.
A nucleus would decay if it had too many neutrons
or an insufficient number to be stable.
All elements with an atomic number of 84 or higher
are naturally radioactive.

Review of Isotopes

http://
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/physics/ra
dioactive-decay-carbon.html

A review of isotopes
Isotope
Carbon-12

Carbon-13

Carbon-14

Symbol

protons

neutrons Radioactive?

Nova: Big Bang Video Series

http://science.howstuffworks.com/big-bang-vid
eos-playlist.htm

Three Types of Radiation

Alpha Particle a large, positively charged

particle that contains two protons and two
neutrons (helium nucleus).
Beta Particle a small, negatively charged
particle that is a fast-moving electron formed
by the breakdown of a neutron. The neutron
then becomes a proton.
Gamma Radiation high-energy rays that
have no charge, but are very powerful.

Alpha Decay

The nucleus
changes by losing
2 protons and 2
neutrons

Beta Decay

The nucleus
changes by
losing a neutron
and gaining a
proton.

Gamma Decay

There is no change in
the composition of the
nucleus just the energy
contained in it.

Characteristics of the Three

Types of Radiation
Type of
Radiation
Alpha
Particle
Beta
Particle
Gamma
Rays

Symbol

Charge

Penetrating
Power

Effects of an Electric Field on

Radioactive Particles and
Rays
positive

negative
Radioactive
Material

Electric Plates

Penetrating Power
Materials and their ability to stop radiation:

, ,

Radioactive source

Paper

Metal Foil

Some

Lead or concrete

Check In
1.
2.
3.

What are the three types of radiation?

What are their charges?
Which one is the most dangerous?

Demo: Detecting Radiation

Draw a picture of the Geiger Counter.

Make a chart like the one below and fill it in as
the each material is tested for its radiation.
Radioactive
Sample

What can stop

the radiation?

Type of Radiation
emitted (,, or )

Simulation

http://www.uccs.edu/
vgcl/nuclear-chemist
ry.html

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/cate
gory/new

Simulation video
http://education.jlab.
org/frost/halflife_par
t1.html

Forces in an Atom

A force is a push or a pull

There are four fundamental forces in
the Universe:
1. Gravitational Force
2. Electromagnetic Force
3. Strong Nuclear Force
4. Weak force responsible for
radioactive decay

Activity:
Modeling the Forces in an Atom

1.

2.

3.

4.

What do you need to do?

Obtain a set of magnets. Each magnet represents
a proton.
Hold a magnet in each hand so that the Velcro
pieces are facing each other.
Slowly bring the magnets toward each other.
a. Record your results.
Now repeat the process but this time make the
magnets stick together with the Velcro.
b.
Record your results.

Conclusions
c. What happens when two positive charges
come together?
d. What is the nuclear force?
e. Where is the nuclear force found in an
atom?
f. Why is the nuclear force needed?
g. What happens if the nuclear force is not
able to hold the nucleus together?

Looking at the forces in an

atom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkV63_Y6
Klw

Transmutation Reactions

Transmutation reactions change one element

into another by changing the number of
protons in the nucleus.
When the nuclear force cannot hold the atom
together, it falls apart by emitting one form of
radiation (alpha particle, beta particle, or
gamma ray).

Releasing an alpha particle from

the nucleus

57

Ni
28

4
2

He +

53

Fe
26

Alpha Emission

If an element breaks down by alpha emission

then an alpha particle is released from the
nucleus
226
88

Ra

4
2

He

Releasing a beta particle from

the nucleus

32
15

0
-1

e +

32
16

Beta Emission

If an element breaks down by beta emission

then a beta particle is released from the
nucleus when a neutron splits into a proton
and neutron
Beta emission causes the atomic number to
go up, not down!
209
84

Po

0
-1

Gamma Emission

Gamma radiation is usually given off with

another particle such as alpha or beta
Gamma radiation does not change the
composition of the nucleus

231
91

Pa

4
2

He

0
0

Quiz
1. What are the three forms of radiation?
2. Complete the following nuclear equation
14
6

0
-1

3. Write a nuclear equation for the alpha decay

for polonium-210.

Half-life of Licorice Activity

Get a piece of graph paper and draw an X

and Y axis on the paper so that it is the full
length of the paper.
Label the x axis as Half-Life and number the
axis from 1-7, leaving space in between each
number.
Label the y axis as Percent of Sample but
do not number the axis until later.
Get a sample of radioactive Licorice!

Half-Life of Licorice Activity

Radioactive materials break down by emitting

particles and energy from their nuclei.
For radioactive licorice, it breaks down to half
of its sample size every minute.
After each half-life, record how much licorice
is left after each minute. Record it on your
graph.
Continue until there is not enough of the
sample remaining to record.

Conclusions
1.

2.
3.
4.

Go back and number the y axis. What do

you notice about the numbers?
In your own words, define half-life.
How many half-lives did your licorice have?
Think about continuing your graph. Will it
ever reach zero? Explain your answer.

Half-life

As the radioactive sample breaks down, it produces

another element
As one breaks down, the other builds up until there
is no parent isotopes left, only daughter isotopes.

Lab: Half-life of Pennies:

Simulating the decay rate of a
radioactive
element
Trial
Tails
Heads
Total # heads
0
1
2
3
4
5
6

remaining
50

removed
0

removed
0

Conclusions
1.
2.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Make a graph of trial number on x axis and

number of pennies on y axis.
Graph Trial # vs. Tails remaining in one color.
Graph Trial # vs. total heads removed in another
color.
Describe the shape of each line of the graph.
What does heads and tails represent in this
experiment?
What does each trial represent?
How many half-lives does it take for the pennies to
completely decay?
If the half-life of pennies is 3 minutes, how long
does it take for the pennies to decay?

Fission Vs. Fusion

Fission splitting a large nucleus into smaller

nuclei; happens in nuclear reactors and
bombs

Chain Reaction

Fission is used in Nuclear Power

Plants

Nuclear Reactor Disaster in

Japan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacifi
c-12726591

Fusion in Stars

Fusion smashing smaller nuclei to make a

larger nucleus; happens in stars and nuclear
reactors

+
Hydrogen-2 + Hydrogen-2

Helium-4

Nuclear Fusion in the Sun

Fusion in Stars
Smaller stars can only produce elements up to Carbon.
Bigger stars can fuse elements together until iron.
After that, only a supernova can produce heavier
elements up to Uranium.

All the Earths elements up to uranium must have

come from either a supernova or from the big bang .

Stars vary in size and

temperature
The size (gravity) and temperature determines what elements will
form in the star.

Life and Death of a Star

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4zkD8_PlaY

First Atomic Bomb test

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dfK9G7UDok

A is for Atom
https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi-ItrJISQE