Nuclear Chemistry

Types of RadiationDecay Equations

What is radiation?• Energy traveling through medium with enough

energy to ionize atoms• Ionize – cause to form an ion • occurs when an electron is stripped (or "knocked

out") from an electron shell, which leaves the atom with a net positive charge

What is radioactive decay?• Process where the nucleus of an unstable atom

loses energy by emitting ionizing particles and emits radiation

What is transmutation?

• Process in which an atom, called the parent radionuclide, transforms into:– an atom with a nucleus in a different state – an atom with different nucleus containing different numbers

of nucleons• Either of these products is named the daughter nuclide. • The decay process results in nuclear

transmutation(creation of an atom of a new element)

Synonyms and Symbols

• Atom in nuclear chemistry is described as a nuclide – EX. Parent or daughter nuclide

• Nucleus in nuclear chemistry is described as a nucleon = proton + neutron

Types of Radiation

ALPHA EMISSION• Radioactive decay process by which a particle with

two neutrons + two protons is ejected from the nucleus of a radioactive atom.

• The alpha particle is identical to the nucleus of a helium atom.

Alpha Decay Equation

ALPHA PROTECTION

ALPHA ABSORBED BY PAPER + SKIN.

BETA EMISSION• type of radioactive decay in which a beta

particle (electron) is emitted from an atom as nucleus breaks apart

BETA ABSORPTION

BETA STOPPED BY METALLIC FOIL AND WOOD.

BETA DECAY EQUATION

BETA DECAY EQUATION

GAMMA EMISSION• High energy ionizing radiation that is biologically

hazardous• Produced from radioisotopes when electrons

transition from excited to ground state

GAMMA EMISSION

VERY DANGEROUS

VERY PENETRATING