Chemistry-Nuclear Reactions

Alpha Decay

4/2 (fish) or 4/2 He

Too big and too unstable nucleus

1 reactant —> 2 products

Protons and neutrons decrease

Beta Decay

0/-1 e or 0/-1 B

Too many protons to be stable, so an electron is ejected from the nucleus. A neutron converts to a proton.

1 reactant —> 2 products

Protons increase, neutrons decrease

Electron Capture

Too many protons in the nucleus, so a proton captures an electron. This changes the proton to a neutron. 

2 reactants —> 1 product

Protons decrease, neutrons increase.

Positron Emission

0/+1 e or 0/+1 B

Too many protons, so a POSITIVE electron is ejected from the nucleus to change it to a neutron (antimatter, negative electron flips charge)

1 reactant —> 2 products

Protons decrease, neutrons increase.

Fission

Large nuclei split into smaller nuclei of equal size

Used in atomic bombs and power plants

Releases tremendous amounts of energy

Occurs because nucleus is too large and too unstable

Fusion

Two smaller nuclei combine to make a bigger nucleus

Found in the stars and the sun

Produces the most energy out of all the reactions (High temp required)

Artificial Transmutation

The process that mimics the natural fusion process on the sun to create new elements

A large nucleus is bombarded by a smaller nucleus

Any element with atomic number >92 is made through this process