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Section 4.4 Unstable Nuclei and Radioactive Decay Objectives • Explain the relationship between unstable nuclei and radioactive decay. • Characterize alpha, beta, and gamma radiation in terms of mass and charge. Radioactivity • Chemical Reactions – Atoms of one element do not change into atoms of another element during a chemical reaction. – Why? Radioactivity • Chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of atoms – not their “destruction.” • Chemical reactions involve only an atom’s electrons – the nucleus remains unchanged. Radioactivity • Nuclear Reactions – These are reactions that involve an atom of one element changing into an atom of another element. These reactions involve the change of an atom’s nucleus. Radioactivity • In the late 1890’s, radioactivity was discovered. – Radioactivity is a process in which some substances spontaneously emit radiation. – Radiation is the name for the energy (“rays”) and particles emitted by radioactive material. – Scientists discovered that by emitting radiation, atoms of one element could change into atoms of another element. Radioactivity • Why does radioactivity occur? – Radioactive atoms emit radiation because their nuclei are unstable*. – Unstable systems gain stability by losing energy. – Unstable nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation in a spontaneous process called radioactive decay. – Radioactive decay continues until stable, non-radioactive atoms form. They are often of a different element. Types of Radiation • Research, begun in the late 1880’s, used electrically charged plates. Scientists were able to identify 3 types of radiation. Types of Radiation • Alpha Radiation – Deflected to negatively charged plates. – Made up of alpha particles: 2 protons and 2 neutrons with a +2 charge. – Symbol for an alpha particle is 42α or 42He (the helium nucleus) – Example of alpha decay Alpha Radiation • Note what happens to the atomic number of an element upon emission of an alpha particle. • The atom giving up the alpha particle has its atomic number reduced by two. This results in the atom becoming a different element. In the example, Radium-226 undergoes alpha decay to form Radon-222. Alpha Radiation 226 222 Rn + Ra --> 88 86 4 2He • This type of equation is known as a nuclear equation. • The atomic numbers and mass numbers of all particles involved are shown. • Note that both atomic number and mass number are conserved in a nuclear equation. Practice Problems Complete the following nuclear equations for alpha decay: 1 24195Am ----> 2 _____ ----> 42He + 23592U 3 23592U ----> 4 _____ ----> 42He + 20684Po Types of Radiation • Beta radiation – Deflected towards the positively charged plate – Consists of fast-moving electrons called beta particles. They have a 1- charge. – Symbol for a beta particle is 00 1ß or -1e. – Example of beta decay Beta Radiation • The atom giving up the beta particle has its atomic number increased by one. • This results in the atom becoming a different element. In the example, carbon-14 undergoes beta decay to form nitrogen-14, according to the equation: 14 C ---> 0 e + 14 N. 6 -1 7 • Note that, in the equation, atomic numbers and mass numbers are conserved. Beta Radiation • Since beta radiation is a type of nuclear radiation, the beta particle is emitted by the nucleus of an atom. • How, you may ask, is it possible for an electron to come from a nucleus?? • Scientists believe that neutrons are actually composed of 2 particles - an electron and a proton. • In beta decay, the electron is emitted and the proton is left, increasing the atomic number. Practice Problems Complete the following nuclear equations for beta decay. 1. 6027Co ----> 2. _____ ---> 0-1e + 23191Pa 3. 9740Zr ---> 4. _____ ---> 0-1e + 6630Zn Types of Radiation • Gamma Radiation – Also called gamma rays – It is high-energy electromagnetic radiation. It has no charge. It also has no mass so its emission does not change the element. – However, gamma radiation often accompanies alpha and beta emission, which do change the element's identity. – Symbol for a gamma ray is 00 ϒ or just ϒ – Gamma rays account for most of the energy lost during the radioactive decay process. Types of Radiation Unstable* Nuclei • Why are some atoms unstable? – The primary factor in determining stability is the ratio of neutrons to protons. – Atoms containing either too many or too few neutrons are unstable. – Unstable nuclei lose enough energy and emit enough particles during radioactive decay to eventually form a nucleus with a stable neutron to proton ratio.