Chem 14- Nuclear chemistry

• What is a nuclear reaction?

  Reorganization of the particles making up the nuclei to form other elements
• What is nuclear stability?

  Related to the balance between attractive forces and repulsive forces. Stability is determined by the ratio of protons and neutrons to electrons
• What is nuclear binding energy?

  The energy released when protons and neutrons come together to make a nucleus
• What does a large nuclear binding energy mean?

  Means the nuclide has a lower energy
• How can we calculate energy released during nucleosynthesis?

  E = MC^(2)
• What is the trend of nuclear binding energy across the elements?

  Light elements: Become more stable as light atoms fuse. Heavy elements: Become more stable when they undergo fission and split into lighter nuclei
• How is radioactivity produced?

  Nuclear decay
• What is alpha decay?

  Helium atom with atomic mass of 4 and 2 electrons
• What are the characteristics of alpha decay?

  Has partial penetrating radiation and heavy elements (Z>83) are more likely to give off alpha radiation
• What is beta decay?

  Rapidly moving electrons emitted by nuclei, has no protons or neutrons
• What are the characteristics of beta decay?

  more penetrating radiation than alpha and is more typical of lighter elements
• What is gamma decay?

  Electromagnetic radiation of a very high frequency
• What are the characteristics of gamma decay?

  Occurs after beta and alpha decay and gamma ray is emitted after nucleons settle down in a state of lower energy
• What are the kinetics of nuclear decay?

  First order reaction
• What are the applications of nuclear radiation?

  Radiotherapy, Carbon dating, generation of energy , smoke detectors