Nuclear Chemistry College Chemistry

Isotope Notation the number of protons Atomic Mass Atomic Number protons + neutrons

Strong Nuclear Force The strong nuclear force is usually strong enough to keep all of the + protons and neutral neutrons together in the nucleus. When the strong nuclear force isn’t strong enough, the nucleus loses pieces (radioactivity) or breaks apart into 2 or more different atoms (fission).

Nuclear Reactions When the nucleus of an atom is unstable, it will spontaneously decay and the nucleus will emit particles. A change like this in the nucleus of an atom is called a nuclear reaction.

Radiation vs. Radioactivity What is the difference between radiation and radioactivity? Radiation: general term for any type of energy that radiates outward in all directions (example: light or heat) Radioactivity: occurs with the breakdown (decay) of certain unstable atomic nuclei

Alpha Decay An alpha particle is a helium atom: During alpha decay: Two protons are lost Two neutrons are lost

Alpha Decay Example Americium-241 is used in smoke detectors, where it emits an alpha particle that ionizes the oxygen and nitrogen in the air. Smoke interrupts the flow of ions and sets off an alarm. Write the alpha decay reaction for Am-241.

Beta Decay A neutron inside the nucleus of the atom changes into an electron and a proton. The proton stays inside the nucleus and the electron is emitted. During beta decay: One neutron is lost One proton is added

Practice Problem Complete the following reactions AND identify whether it is alpha or beta decay: a. b.

Nuclear Reactions ParticleMassChargeNotation Alpha (helium) 4N/A Beta (Electron) 0 Proton11 Neutron10 Positron01

Gamma Rays Gamma (  ) rays: high energy electromagnetic radiation (higher than X rays!) and the most dangerous type of radioactive emission. The following decay of cobalt-60 is used in cancer treatment: Note: gamma rays are accompanied by beta emission

Nuclear Reaction Example Beryllium-9 plus an alpha particle produces another element and a neutron. Write the nuclear reaction.

Positron Emission Positron emission: A positron is a particle with the same size and mass as an electron, but with a positive charge.

Electron Capture Electron capture: An electron is captured to turn a proton into a neutron Animation:

Half Life Half Life: the time it takes for half a sample of unstable radioisotopes to decay Elements take very different amounts of time to decay to half of the original sample: Parent IsotopeHalf-LifeDaughter Isotope Carbon yrs.Nitrogen-14 Potassium billion yrs.Argon-40 Thorium-23075,000 yrs.Radium-226 Uranium ,000 million yrs.Lead-207 Uranium billion yrs.Lead-206

Half Life Example

Half-life Calculations Radioactive decay rate is proportional to the number of radioactive nuclei (N) in a sample. Thus: Rate = kN (k is called the decay constant) Using a little calculus, you can turn this into: If you assume ½ sample remains we can rearrange the above equation to: Where: N = # left after a time interval and N 0 = # nuclei at time = zero OR FYI: = ln 2 OR

Radioactive Dating Radiocarbon dating is useful only for dating formerly living things While an organism is alive it takes in carbon -- most of it as carbon-12 but a small % is carbon-14 (a radioactive form of carbon). Carbon-14 is formed in the atmosphere by the following process (helped along by cosmic rays)

Radioactive Dating As soon as the organism dies, it stops taking in carbon. The amount of carbon 12 stays the same over time, but the amount of carbon 14 decreases as it decays. Carbon-14 has a half life of 5715 years. It decays by the following process: Geologists and archeologists can use the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-14 to determine how old an object is

Nuclear Power in MN Source:

Nuclear Power in MN Source:

Nuclear Power in MN Source: Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant

Nuclear Power Source: XCel Energy web site ( Xcel Energy-owned Generating Facilities Unit Type Number of Generating Facilities Number of Generating Units Generating Capacity (MW) Coal17358,207 Natural Gas26614,913 Nuclear231,617 Hydro Oil Refuse-derived Fuel3667 Wind13727* *Xcel Energy purchased 1,296 megawatts of wind power in Xcel Energy-owned Generating Facilities

Nuclear Power Uranium Mines/Milling Sites in the USA Image from finder/materials/uranium/

Nuclear Power Operating Nuclear Reactors in the USA Image from

Nuclear power is produced in reactors. These include various components principally, nuclear fuel, moderators, coolants, steam generators, turbines, condensers, cooling towers and of course a containment structure. Typical pressurized water reactor

Chapter 2. Nuclear Energy Production Nuclear plant containment building Nuclear plant fuel pool

New nuclear plants incorporate multiple safety layers.

Uranium provides the energy source for nuclear reactors. 1 ton of uranium has the equivalent energy of 20,000 tons of coal! Typical fuel pellet Fuel assembly in a representative boiling water reactor (about 4.3 meters [14 feet]) tall and each weighing about kilograms (700 pounds). NFI type 9x9 Fuel.

Commercial spent fuel storage Above-ground fuel storage containers Note: The blue glow is called Cerenkov radiation. It only happens when highly radioactive fuel rods are immersed in water. They cause the water molecules to get excited and emit blue light when they drop back to their normal state. Spent fuel pool storage at reactors

Permanent Storage Facility? The proposed Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository near Las Vegas, Nevada