nuclear decay graphic: . nuclear symbols element symbol mass number, a (p + + n o ) atomic number, z...
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Nuclear Decay
Graphic: www.lab-initio.com
Nuclear Symbols
Element symbol
Mass number, A (p+ + no)
Atomic number, Z(number of p+)
U23592
Balancing Nuclear Equations
235 1 142 91 192 0 56 36 03U n Ba Kr n
Areactants = Aproducts
Zreactants = Zproducts
235 + 1 = 142 + 91 + 3(1)
92 + 0 = 56 + 36 + 3(0)
Balancing Nuclear Equations #2
226 488 2Ra
226 = 4 + ____222
222
88 = 2 + ___86
86
Atomic number 86 is radon, Rn
Rn
Balancing Nuclear Equations #3
235 1 139 192 0 53 02U n I n
235 + 1 = 139 + 2(1) + ____95
3992 + 0 = 53 + 2(0) + ____
3995
Atomic number 39 is yttrium, Y
Y
Alpha Decay
Alpha production (a):
an alpha particle is a
helium nucleus238 4 23492 2 90U He Th
Alpha decay is limited to heavy, radioactive
nuclei
238 4 23492 2 90U Th
4 2 4 22 2He or
Alpha Radiation
Limited to VERY large nucleii.
Beta Decay
Beta production (b):A beta particle is an electron ejected from the nucleus
234 234 090 91 1Th Pa e
Beta emission converts a neutron to a proton
234 234 090 91 1Th Pa
0 01 1e or
Beta Radiatio
n
Converts a neutron into a proton.
Gamma Ray Production
Gamma ray production (g):
Gamma rays are high energy photons produced in association with other forms of decay.
Gamma rays are massless and do not, by themselves, change the nucleus
0023490
42
23892 2 ThHeU
Gamma Ray Production
Gamma ray production (g):
Gamma rays are high energy photons produced in association with other forms of decay.Gamma rays are massless and do not, by themselves, change the nucleus
0023490
42
23892 2 ThHeU
Positron Production
Positron emission:Positrons are the anti-particle of the electron
Positron emission converts a proton to a neutron
NeeNa 2210
01
2211
e01
Electron Capture
Electron capture: (inner-orbital electron is captured by the nucleus)
Electron capture converts a proton to a neutron
0020179
01
20180 AueHg
Types of Radiation
NuclearStability
Decay will occur in such a way as to return a nucleus to the band (line) of stability.The most stable nuclide is Iron-56
If Z > 83, the nuclide is radioactive
Graphic – Wikimedia user : Napy1kenobi
A Decay Series
A radioactive nucleus reaches a stable state by a series of steps
Graphic – Wikimedia Commons User Tosaka
Half-life
Graphic - http://cafreetextbooks.ck12.org/science/CK12_Earth_Science_rev.pdf
Decay Kinetics
Decay occurs by first order kinetics (the rate of decay is proportional to the number of nuclides present)
0
lnN
ktN
N = number of nuclides remaining at time t
N0 = number of nuclides present initially
k = rate constant
t = elapsed time
Calculating Half-life
1/ 2
ln(2) 0.693t
k k
t1/2 = Half-life (units dependent on rate constant, k)
Sample Half-Lives