nuclear chemistry

radioisotopes

isotopes of atoms with unstable nuclei

emit radiation to attain a more stable atomic configuration in radioactive decay

nuclear stability

determined by the neutron to proton ratio of an atom's nucleus

nucleons

positively charged protons and neutral neutrons contained in an atom's densely packed nucleus

strong nuclear force

a force that acts only on subatomic particles that are extremely close together and it overcomes the electrostatic repulsion between protons.

band of stability

the region within a graph which all stable nuclei are found when plotting the number of neutrons versus the number of protons for all stable nuclei

atoms above the band of stability

atoms below the band of stability

too many neutrons to be stable atoms

too many protons to be stable

beta decay

decreases the number of neutrons and increases the number of protons in the nucleus it lowers the n/p ratio and causes an atom to be closer or within the band of stability

alpha decay

all nuclei with more than 83 protons are radioactive and decay spontaneously neutrons and protons must be reduced to make nuclei stable the mass number decreases by 4 and the atomic number decreases by 2 in this decay

positron emission

nuclei with low neutron to proton ratios lying below the band of stability involves the emissions of a positron from a nucleus a proton is converted into a neutron and a positron

positron

a particle with the same mass as an electron but with the opposite charge.

electron capture

decreases the number of protons in unstable nuclei lying below the band of stability the nucleus draws in an electron the __________ combines with a proton to form a neutron an x-ray proton is emitted (similar to a gamma ray)

radioactive decay series

a series of nuclear reactions that begins with an unstable nucleus and results in a stable nucleus

transmutation

conversion of an atom of one element to an atom of another element all nuclear reactions are these reactions induced transmutation

transuranium elements

elements with the atomic number of 93 and higher reproduced synthetically by induced transmutation

fission

the split of a nucleus into smaller more stable fragments with a large release of energy

chain reaction

a self sustaining process in which one reaction initiates the next

critical mass

the minimum amount of a sample of fissionable material necessary to sustain a nuclear chain reaction

subcritical mass

sample that is not massive enough to sustain a charge

supercritical mass

sample that has a mass greater than the critical mass

fusion

the process of binding smaller atomic nuclei together into a single large and more stable nucleus drawbacks: requires extremely high temperature to initiate, confinement of the reaction as no material can withstand the extreme temp.

nuclear reactors

uses fission to generate electricity

uses control rods to prevent the chain reaction to race out of control to absorb neutrons

drawbacks: some products are extremely radioactive and must be stored as nuclear waste, storage is an issue as is nuclear power, it stays radioactive for thousands of years

film badges

a device containing a piece of radiation sensitive material used to monitor exposure

ionizing radiation

radiation energetic enough to ionize matter with which it collides high energy ____ is dangerous as it can fragment and ionize molecules in biological tissue as it causes a disruption of normal cell function. can affect *somatic (nonreproductive) and **genetic cells

*affects the organism during their lifetime (cancer and burns) **affects genes and chromosomes

geiger counter

a radiation detection device that uses ionizing radiation in its operation

electron

0/-1 e

positron

0/1 (beta symbol)

neutron

1/0 n

proton

1/1 p

beta

0/-1 (beta symbol)

roentgen equivalent for man

called rems the unit used to describe the amount of radiation that affects the human body you are exposed to 0.1-0.3 rems of radiation annually an x-ray exposes you to approximately 0.0005 rems

biological effects

factors: energy of the radiation type of tissue absorbing the radiation distance from the source of radiation

radiation poisioning

illness such as cancer caused by the radiation from inside the body as dangerous levels of radioactive material are breathed, ingested, or injected

radiation sickness

effects such as nausea, vomiting, hemorrhage, massive overdose of penetrating radiation.

radiation injury

effects such as burns and loss of hair less penetrating