NCVPS Honors Chemistry M2L4N1 Guided Notes
Why does the nucleus want to undergo a change?
I. Radioactivity
A. Radioactive Decay
1. The spontaneous disintegration of a nucleus into a a
slightly lighter and more ________ nucleus, accompanied
by emission of particles, electromagnetic radiation, or
both
B. Nuclear Radiation
1. Particles or electromagnetic radiation emitted from
the nucleus during _____________________
C. Unstable Nuclides
1. All nuclides beyond atomic number ____ are unstable
and radioactive
II. Types of Radioactive Decay
A. Alpha Emission
1. Alpha particle (α) is a helium nucleus ( 42He ), and
has a 2+ charge. Ex:________________________
2. Alpha emission reduces the mass of an atom by 4
amu’s and the atomic number by 2.
B. Beta Emission
1. Beta particle (β) is an electron emitted from the
nucleus during nuclear decay
ex:____________________
2. Beta particles are emitted when a neutron is
converted into a proton and an electron
ex:_______________
1
NCVPS Honors Chemistry M2L4N1 Guided Notes
C. Gamma Emission
1. Gamma rays (γ) are high-energy ___________
emitted from a nucleus.
2. Gamma emission usually follows alpha and beta
decay.
D. Penetrating Ability of Radiation
1. Alpha Particles
a. Least _________ability due to large mass and
charge
b. Cannot penetrate ___________
c. Can cause harm through __________ or
__________
2. Beta Particles
a. More _____________ than alpha
b. Travels almost as fast as __________
c. Penetrating ability about 100 times greater than
that of __________particles.
d. Travel only a few centimeters through air
3. Gamma Rays
a. Greatest penetrating ability.
b. Protection requires shielding with thick layers of
________
c. No mass or charge
Alpha Beta Gamma
Least harmful Most harmful
2
NCVPS Honors Chemistry M2L4N1 Guided Notes
I. Nuclear Stability and Decay
A. ____________________ Ratio determines the type of decay
that occurs
1. Band of Stability
II. Half-Life
A. Half-Life (t1/2)
A = A0 (1/2)n
A = the amount of sample remaining
A o = Original mass
n = number of half lives past
where n = T/t
n can be calculated by taking the total time (T) divided by
the length of the half life (t)
1. The time required for half the atoms of a radioactive
nuclide to decay.
a. More stable nuclides decay ____________
3
NCVPS Honors Chemistry M2L4N1 Guided Notes
b. Less stable nuclides decay ____________
III. Transmutation Reactions
A. Transmutations
1. A change in the______________ of a nucleus as a
result of a change in the number of its protons
B. Nuclear Reaction
1. A reaction that affects the nucleus of an atom
2. Small amounts of mass are converted to large
amounts of _____________
a. E = mc2
C. Balancing Nuclear Reactions
4
NCVPS Honors Chemistry M2L4N1 Guided Notes
1. Total atomic numbers and mass numbers must be
_________________ on both sides
I. Nuclear Fission
A. Nuclear Fission
1. A very heavy nucleus ___________ into more stable
nuclei of intermediate mass
2. The mass of the products is less than the mass of the
reactants. Missing mass is converted to __________
a. Small amounts of missing mass are converted to
HUGE amounts of energy (E = mc2)
3. Used as a source to heat water to produced steam to
produce __________.
B. Nuclear Chain Reaction
1. A reaction in which the material that ____________
the reaction is also one of the products and can start
another reaction
C. Critical Mass
1. The minimum amount of nuclide that provides the
number of neutrons needed to ______ a chain reaction
5
NCVPS Honors Chemistry M2L4N1 Guided Notes
II. Nuclear Fusion
A. Nuclear Fusion
1. Light-mass nuclei combine to form a ________________,
more stable nucleus
B. Fusion Reactions
1. More energetic than _______ reactions.
2. Source of energy for the ____________________.
3. Could produce energy for human use if a way can be found
6
NCVPS Honors Chemistry M2L4N1 Guided Notes
to ______________ the reaction.
