NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY

• In earlier modules, we discussed chemical reactions involving the electrons of different atoms
• Atomic nuclei can also participate in a chemical reaction, which is the realm of nuclear chemistry
• Nuclear chemistry


  The study of chemical reactions involving the nuclei of atoms
• Antoine Henri Becquerel, a French engineer and physicist, discovered the first evidence of radioactivity
• Marie Sklodowska Curie pioneered research on radioactivity and discovered polonium (Po) and radium (Ra)
• Marie Curie's body was so radioactive that her coffin was lined with almost one-inch thick lead
• Marie Curie's belongings, especially her laboratory notebook and manuscript, are so radioactive that they're being stored in lead-lined boxes and guests who want to see these documents are required to sign a liability waiver and wear protective gear
• Marie Curie's belongings are expected to remain radioactive for the next 1500 years
• Nucleons


  Neutrons or protons
• Nuclide


  A distinct nucleus with a specific number of protons and electrons
• Atomic number (Z)


  The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
• Mass number (A)


  The sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
• In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of electrons
• Number of neutrons


  Mass number (A) - Atomic number (Z)
• Changing the atomic number will result in a change in the identity of the element
• Isotopes


  Nuclides of the same element with the same number of protons but differ in the number of neutrons
• Isotones


  Atoms with the same number of neutrons but different numbers of protons
• Isobars


  Nuclides with the same mass number but differ in their atomic numbers
• Rules for balancing nuclear reactions

  • The sum of the subscripts on the reactant side must equal the sum of the subscripts on the product side
  • The sum of the superscripts on the reactant side must equal the sum of the superscripts on the product side
• Alpha particle emission/decay


  A type of nuclear reaction which leads to the emission of alpha particles
• Beta particle emission/decay


  A nuclear reaction wherein a beta particle is produced
• Positron emission/decay


  A nuclear reaction wherein a positron is emitted
• Electron capture reaction


  A nuclear reaction where a gamma emission is accompanied by the capture of electrons
• Gamma decay


  The process where a metastable nuclide undergoes gamma emission to increase its stability
• Half-life


  The length of time needed for the amount of a radioactive nuclide to decrease by one-half of its previous amount
• Deriving an expression to solve the rate of decay of 131I

  Use the half-life formula: t1/2 = ln(2)/k, solve for k