Nuclear reactions

Nuclear reaction

Changing an atom into another atom of a different element by changing the nucleus.

Nuclear decay

Emission of high-energy electromagnetic radiation and particles.

How is nuclear decay achieved?

The protons and neutrons rearranging.

Transmutation

The process of converting an atom to an atom of another element.

Why can’t transmutation happen through chemical reactions?

Chemical reactions do not involve changes in the nucleus.

Radioisotopes

Atoms that have an unstable nuclei that can undergo nuclear decay at any moment.

How do radioisotopes differ from regular isotopes

Isotopes have a stable nuclei while radioisotopes have an unstable nuclei.

What happens when neutrons are added to an already stable nucleus?

It becomes unstable i.e. Carbon-14 is more unstable than carbon-12.

Example of a radioisotope

Carbon-14

Properties of Alpha decay

• 10% SOL

• Stopped by human skin

• 2 protons and 2 neutrons

Properties of Beta decay

• 90% SOL

• Stopped by aluminium

• 1 electron

Properties of Gamma rays

• SOL

• Stopped by several cm of steel or concrete

• Electromagnetic wave

What does the term half-life mean?

The time it takes for half a radioisotope’s nuclei to decay

How does carbon dating work?

Measuring the decay of carbon-14 within a sample. Living organisms get supply of Carbon-14 from atmosphere and once they die, the intake stops and it starts decaying into Nitrogen-14.

What is nuclear radiation?

Any rays or particles emitted by atomic nuclei.

What does ionising radiation refer to?

A type of energy that has the ability to remove electrons from atoms. It is still possible to remove protons and neutrons with the use of an immense amount of energy.

How does cell mutation happen?

When the ionising radiation damages DNA inside the cell without causing the cell to die.