Radioactivity ( Nuclear Reactions )

Nuclear Reaction

Radiation is emitted from the nucleus so it is called a nuclear reaction

Chemical reactions

Only involve electrons, atoms only rearranged, form new compound

Nuclear reactions

Frequently results in the formation of different/new elements

Radium 266,88

Emits and alpha particle, two protons are lost, atom is number decrease by two, four nucleons are lost, mass number decreases by four, since atomic number determined what the element is, the element changes, when an alpha particle is lost in an atom it changes into the element two places before it in the periodic table

Americium 241,95

Uses in smoke detectors, 241,95Am- 237,93Np+4,2He

Carbon 14,6

Loses a beta particle, mass stays 14, atomic number goes up by one because proton was produced, 14,6 C-14,7 N+0e-

Transmutation

When atoms loses a beta particle it changes into the atom one after it in the periodic table, its mass number remains the number since neutron has become the proton, changing of one element to another is transmutation

Cobalt-60

Lost of gamma radiation does not give rise to any new atoms simply the loss of energy

Polonium-210 decomposes with the emission of an alpha particle, write the equation for the reaction

210,84Po= 206,82Pb+ 4,2He

Bismuth-214 undergoes beta decay, write the equation for the nuclear equation

214,83Bi= 214,84Po+0,-1e

Which types of radiation are the most and least penetrating?

1.Gamma rays 2. Alpha particles