Nuclear Chemistry Unit Quiz
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68 Terms
Nuclear
related to the nucleus of an atom
Radiation
energy that transfers through space
Alpha Particle
a helium nucleus, emitted as a form of radiation, used by Rutherford in the Gold Foil Experiment
Beta Particle
high energy electrons
Positron
particle identical to an electron except it has a positive charge
Gamma Ray
high-energy ray similar to an x-ray
Radioisotope
an unstable nucleus that is radioactive
Tracer
the radioisotope used to track a chemical reaction
Artificial Transmutation
a transmutation caused by bombarding a nucleus with a high-energy particle, such as a neutron or an alpha particle
Natural Transmutation
spontaneously changing an atom of an element into a different element
Fission
splitting a large nuclei into middleweight nuclei and neutrons
Fusion
the nuclear reaction where light nuclei combine to form heavier nuclei
Half Life
the amount of time needed for half of a radioactive sample to decay
When does radiation occur?
when the ratio between protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom is imbalanced
What does a nucleus do in order to become balanced?
it emits matter and/or energy
What is the energy/matter that nuclei give off to become stable called?
radiation
What is the point of radiation?
to create a stable nucleus over time
What do alpha particles have the same makeup as?
a helium nucleus
What is the result of alpha particles having the largest mass?
they have the weakest penetrating power (they can go through a piece of paper
How can you write an alpha particle?
⁴₂He or ⁴₂ a
What is a beta particle?
the same as electrons with negligible mass and a charge of -1
What is the result of beta particles having a very small mass?
they have medium penetrating power, and they can go through thin layers of aluminum
How do you write a beta negative particle?
0-1β or 0-1e
What is a beta positive particle (positron)?
the same as beta particles but with a positive charge
How do you write a beta positive (positron) particle?
0+1β or 0+1e
What is gamma radiation?
nuclear energy
What is the mass of a gamma particle?
it has no mass
What happens as a result of gamma particles having no mass?
they have the most penetrating power and can travel through a few inches of lead
What charge does a gamma particle have?
none (0)
How do you write a gamma particle?
00Y
How can you fill in the missing pieces of a nuclear reaction?
by using algebra. The sum of the numbers on the top should be set equal to each other, and the sum of the numbers on the bottom should also be set equal to each other
How can you tell if a reaction needs a gamma, positron, beta negative, or alpha particle to be complete?
see what numbers are needed to be equal to the product
How many types of nuclear reactions are there?
4
What happens in nuclear reactions?
a small amount of mater is converted into a very large amount of energy
What is the idea of nuclear reactions based on?
e=mc2
What did e=mc2 do to the Law of Conservation?
it loosened it by stating that matter and energy are two different forms of the same thing and can change between forms
Which type of nuclear reaction makes radioisotopes stable over time?
natural transmutation
How can you tell if a nuclear reaction is natural transmutation?
if there is only one reactant
How can you tell if a nuclear reaction is an artificial transmutation?
if it’s some element + one of the four particles or a neutron (n)
What is fission used for?
nuclear power
How can you tell if a nuclear reaction is fission?
if there’s large mass numbers + a neutron (n) for reactants and several products (2 of more)
Where is fusion used?
to make elements in stars
How can you tell if a nuclear reaction is fusion?
if there’s a small nuclei. It’s almost always H or He
Chain Reaction
a self-propagating reaction— the materials that start the reaction are also the one of the products and start another reaction
How is a chain reaction prevented in a nuclear reactor?
the chain reaction is kept under control by the use of the control rods. Neutron absorbing control rods keep the system from reaching critical mass by limiting the number of available neutrons
Critical Mass
the mass needed to sustain a reaction
What kind of fuel does fission use? Fusion?
Uranium-235 vs H/He
What is the difference between the fuels of fission and fusion?
Uranium-235 is limited in supply but there’s plenty of H and He
Which reaction (fission or fusion) has danger of meltdown?
Fission, fusion has no danger of meltdown
What does fission create? What about fusion?
toxic waste and thermal pollution. Fusion creates no toxic waste
Why can’t we use fusion for nuclear power yet?
it is not yet sustainable because of the conditions that it needs
What temperature does a fission reaction need? Fusion?
1000 K vs 100,000,000 K
How much energy is released from a fission reaction? Fusion?
2.1 × 1012 J/g vs 3.4 × 1014 J/g
Why is fusion better?
its fuel is abundant, no danger of meltdown, non toxic waste, produces more energy
What can tracers be used for?
to watch where specific atoms go in chemical reactions or in medical scans to read an MRI or x-ray
What are 5 tracers?
Iodine-131
Carbon-14
Uranium-238
Cobalt-60
Americium-241
What is Iodine-131 used for?
diagnosing and treating thyroid disorders
What is Carbon-14 used for?
dating once-living organisms in a process called carbon dating
How can Carbon-14 be used to date organisms?
By using the ratio of C-12 to C-14 in an organism, scientists can figure out how long ago an organism died. this can be used for plants or animals
What is Uranium-238 used for?
can be used to date geological formations or rocks. This is how scientists know how old the Earth is and what it looked like before humans existed. This can be used for the seafloor, mountain ranges, and canyons
How can Uranium-238 be used to date geological formations/rocks?
The process uses the ratio between U-238 and Pb-206
What is Cobalt-60 used for?
treating some types of cancer
What is Americium-241 used for?
can be used in smoke detectors
How does Americium-241 work in smoke detectors?
the radioisotope releases alpha particles which flow through the detector. When smoke is present it disrupts the flow, setting off the alarm
How does a radioactive material decay over time to become more stable?
it emits particles which can form new elements
What are the ways you can determine how much is remaining in a sample after a specified amount of time?
fraction, percent, or mass
What is the equation for number of half lives?
time elapsed/what the half life is
What is the equation for fraction remaining?
(1/2)n (where n is the number of half lives)