Nuclear Chemistry Introduction

Nuclear Chemistry

Study of changes in structure of nuclei and subsequent changes in chemistry

Radioactive nuclei

spontaneously change structure and emit radiation

Nuclear reactions have a much larger release in…

energy compared to chemical reactions

Isotopes show identical chemical reactions but…

different nuclear reactions

Nuclear reactions are not sensitive to…

chemical environment

Rate of nuclear reactions are not dependent on..

temperature

The nucleus is held together by

the Strong nuclear force - which is the strongest force known

Protons and neutrons are ver y close together, they exchange a teeny bit of mass back and forth. When disrupted…

the mass is converted to energy according to E=mc²

The mass is tiny, but…

the energy is immense (according to E=mc²)

When a nuclide is unstable

it is radioactive, so the more radioactive, the more unstable

radionuclides

unstable elements that go through radioactive decay to create new elements

How do you calculate mass defect?

Mass of the calculated mass (what the mass should be) minus the actual mass given.

Alpha rays

consist of positively charged particles called alpha particles and therefore are deflected by the positively charge plate

Beta rays

are electrons and deflected by negatively charged plate

Gamma rays

have no charge and are not affected by an external electric field or magnetic field

alpha particles consist of what

⁴₂He²⁺ ions - can be stopped by a piece of paper

beta particles consist of what

electrons - can penetrate a few mm into human skin

gamma rays consist of what

high energy x-rays - stopped by metals (depends on energy of rays and thickness of metals)

proton

¹₁p or ¹₁H

neutron

¹₀n

electron

⁰_-1e or ⁰_-1 beta

positron

⁰₊₁e or ⁰₊₁beta

alpha particle

⁴₂He or ⁴₂alpha

What happens with alpha decay?

an alpha particle is being emitted - you end with an isotope + an alpha particle

Beta decay

loss of a beta particle (high energy electron) so you will have an isotope with an electron as the final 2 products

Positron Emission

Loss of a positron - you will have an isotope with a positron as the products

Gamma emission

if there is a mass defect (there will be) - there is a release of energy therefore all of these types of decay emit these types of particles

Electron capture

the addition of an electron, as a results, a proton is transformed into a neutron, so the elements, so you will decrease in charge by one