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Nuclear Chemistry
Stability of an Atom
Problem
Solution:
Radioactive Decay
Isotopic Symbolism
Alpha decay
alpha particle emission
Example:
283
92
decay
U
4
Th He
279
90
He is an alpha particle
4
2
Beta decay
beta emission
Example:
40
19
decay
40
20
Ca
0
-1
Positron Emission
positron emission
Example:
13
7
emission
C e
13
6
0
1
Electron Capture
Example:
Cr e
51
24
0
1
e capture
V
51
23
Gamma Emission
gamma emission
emission of energy (photon) from
an unstable nucleus.
metasta
b le
Tc Tc
99 m
43
99
43
0
0
Nuclear Bombardment
Reactions
Fusion
reactions in which
two or more
elements "fuse"
together to form
one larger element,
releasing energy in
the process
As does the sun: 21H
+ 31H 42He + 10n
10 x more
energy/gram than
fission
Courtesy NASA
Fission
Uranium-235, a source of
nuclear power.
The worlds first atomic explosion, July 16, 1945 at Alamogordo, New Mexico.
The uranium bomb, 3m (10 ft) long and 0.7 m (2.3 ft) in diameter, was called
Little Boy.
The nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, after the accident of April 16, 1986.
Nuclear power
Nuclear-powered car
Fuel = pencil-sized U-cylinder
Energy = 1000 20-gallon tanks of gasoline
Refuel every 1000 weeks (about 20 years)
End
41