This document summarizes key concepts in nuclear chemistry including:
1) Nuclides are characterized by their atomic number and nucleon number. Neutrons increase nuclear stability by enhancing the strong force without increasing electrostatic repulsion.
2) There are several types of nuclear reactions including alpha, beta, and gamma emission. Nuclear reactions differ from chemical reactions in their energy release and independence from temperature and pressure.
3) Radioactive emissions can damage the body by producing reactive particles like free radicals that react with important biomolecules, potentially leading to immediate or delayed effects like cancer. Nuclear energy is released from fission which splits large nuclei or fusion which combines small nuclei.
This document summarizes key concepts in nuclear chemistry including:
1) Nuclides are characterized by their atomic number and nucleon number. Neutrons increase nuclear stability by enhancing the strong force without increasing electrostatic repulsion.
2) There are several types of nuclear reactions including alpha, beta, and gamma emission. Nuclear reactions differ from chemical reactions in their energy release and independence from temperature and pressure.
3) Radioactive emissions can damage the body by producing reactive particles like free radicals that react with important biomolecules, potentially leading to immediate or delayed effects like cancer. Nuclear energy is released from fission which splits large nuclei or fusion which combines small nuclei.
This document summarizes key concepts in nuclear chemistry including:
1) Nuclides are characterized by their atomic number and nucleon number. Neutrons increase nuclear stability by enhancing the strong force without increasing electrostatic repulsion.
2) There are several types of nuclear reactions including alpha, beta, and gamma emission. Nuclear reactions differ from chemical reactions in their energy release and independence from temperature and pressure.
3) Radioactive emissions can damage the body by producing reactive particles like free radicals that react with important biomolecules, potentially leading to immediate or delayed effects like cancer. Nuclear energy is released from fission which splits large nuclei or fusion which combines small nuclei.
This document summarizes key concepts in nuclear chemistry including:
1) Nuclides are characterized by their atomic number and nucleon number. Neutrons increase nuclear stability by enhancing the strong force without increasing electrostatic repulsion.
2) There are several types of nuclear reactions including alpha, beta, and gamma emission. Nuclear reactions differ from chemical reactions in their energy release and independence from temperature and pressure.
3) Radioactive emissions can damage the body by producing reactive particles like free radicals that react with important biomolecules, potentially leading to immediate or delayed effects like cancer. Nuclear energy is released from fission which splits large nuclei or fusion which combines small nuclei.
nucleus, characterized by a specific atomic number and nucleon number • Nucleon number or mass number = the number of nucleons (protons and neutrons) in the nucleus of a nuclide. Nuclide Symbolism Nuclear Stability • Electrostatic force = the force that causes opposite electrical charges to attract each other. • Strong force = the force between nucleons (protons and neutrons). • Neutrons increase the attraction from the strong force without increasing electrostatic repulsion between nucleons. Band of Stability Alpha Emission Beta Emission Positron Emission Electron Capture Gamma Emission Nuclear Reactions • Nuclear reactions involve changes in the nucleus, whereas chemical reactions involve the loss, gain, and sharing of electrons. • Different isotopes of the same element may undergo very different nuclear reactions, even though an element’s isotopes all share the same chemical characteristics. Nuclear Reactions (cont.) • Unlike chemical reactions, the rates of nuclear reactions are unaffected by temperature, pressure, and the presence of other atoms to which the radioactive atom may be bonded. • Nuclear reactions, in general, give off much more energy than chemical reactions Nuclear Equations General Nuclear Equations Half-life = the time it takes for one-half of a sample to disappear. Radioactive Decay Series Radiation Effect on Body • Radioactive emissions ionize atoms and molecules. This also leads to free radicals (particles with unpaired electrons). H2O → H2O●+ + e− H2O●+ + H2O → H3O+ + ●OH H2O + e− → H● + OH− • These reactive particles react with important substances in the body, leading to immediate damage and delayed problems, such as cancer. Uses for Radioactive Nuclides • Cancer radiation treatment • Computer imaging techniques • Radiocarbon dating • Smoke detectors • Food irradiation • Radioactive tracers Nuclear Energy • Binding energy = the amount of energy released when a nucleus is formed. • Binding energy per nucleon generally increases from small atoms to atoms with a mass number around 56. Thus fusing small atoms to form medium-sized atoms (nuclear fusion) releases energy. • Binding energy per nucleon generally decreases from atoms with a mass number around 56 to larger atoms. Thus splitting large atoms to form medium- sized atoms (nuclear fission) also releases energy. Binding Energy per Nucleon Nuclear Fission Chain Reaction Nuclear Reactor Nuclear Fusion Powers the Sun
