Nuclear Chemistry Bravo – 15,000 kilotons

CA Standards

Nuclear Symbols Element symbol Mass number (p + + n o ) Atomic number (number of p + )

Types of Radioactive Decay  alpha production (  He): helium nucleus  beta production (  e): gamma ray production (  ):  gamma ray production (  ):  alpha production (  He): helium nucleus  beta production (  e): gamma ray production (  ):  gamma ray production (  ):

Nuclear Stability Decay will occur in such a way as to return a nucleus to the band (line) of stability.

Alpha Radiation Alpha decay is limited to VERY large, nuclei such as those in heavy metals.

Beta Radiation Beta decay converts a neutron into a proton.

CA Standards

Fission Fission Fission - Splitting a heavy nucleus into two nuclei with smaller mass numbers.

Deuterium – Tritium Fusion Reaction Fusion Fusion - Combining two light nuclei to form a heavier, more stable nucleus.

Energy and Mass mass defect Nuclear changes occur with small but measurable losses of mass. The lost mass is called the mass defect, and is converted to energy according to Einstein’s equation:  E =  mc 2  m = mass defect  E = change in energy c = speed of light mass defect Nuclear changes occur with small but measurable losses of mass. The lost mass is called the mass defect, and is converted to energy according to Einstein’s equation:  E =  mc 2  m = mass defect  E = change in energy c = speed of light Because c 2 is so large, even small amounts of mass are converted to enormous amount of energy.

A Fission Reactor