nuclear chemistry test

which type of radioactive decay is shielded by aluminum?

Beta

-this is when a neutron is converted to a proton and an electron. The electron is emitted from the nucleus. -the atomic number increases by 1 but the atomic mass remains the same in AMUs. -this has greater penetrating strength than Alpha particle emission

Beta Emission

which type of radioactive decay is shielded by paper?

Alpha

-this is the emission (release) of two protons and two neutrons as an alpha particle -causes the atomic number to decrease and the atomic mass to decrease by 4 amu -this is the weakest penetrating radiation. (A couple sheets of paper can stop it)

Alpha Particle Emission

-process of a heavy, unstable nuclide splitting into smaller, more stable nuclides. -releases large quantities of energy, such as those that are carried out in Nuclear Power Plants. -This starts a chain reaction (successive chemical reactions) that yields more and more energy each time a split occurs.

Nuclear fission

-the end of fission is a low energy radioactive product reffered to as ____________ ___________________ -these are hard to dispose of once formed

Nuclear waste

-this is when a proton is converted to a neutron and a positron. The positron is emitted. -the atomic number decreases, but the atomic mass remains the same in AMUs

Positron Emission

mass is converted into energy using the equation E=mc^2

both fission and fusion

the total mass before a reaction is greater than the mass after

both fission and fusion

limits the number of neutrons

control rods

removes heat from the system safely

coolant

allows steam to go back to water to be used again

cooling tower

what is the relative mass of protons, neutrons, and electrons?

electron: 0 neutrons: 1 protons: 1

which number of nucleons is more stable in a nuclide?

even numbers

"means to split"

fission

a chain reaction is needed to keep this reaction going

fission

a very large nucleus splits into smaller pieces

fission

it is used in atomic bombs

fission

the rate can be safely controlled in power plants

fission

two small nuclei from a single larger one

fission

provides neutrons with its fission

fuel rods

it is used in the hydrogen bomb

fusion

it occurs in the sun and other stars

fusion

produces the electricity

generator

T 1/2 is the time required for half the atoms of a radioactive nuclide to decay

half-life

atomic mass over atomic number followed by symbol Ex: carbon 13 <- atomic mass

hyphen notation

when there is a breach in the containment dome because the fuel rods got too hot (because the control rods could not be lowered) and melted through the bottom -when this happens massive amounts of radiation are being released into the environment

meltdowns

the reaction between sodium ion and chlorine ion

neither fission nor fusion

-this term refers to the very small amount of energy that is released- when a nucleus is formed from nucleons -also can refer to the energy required to break apart a nucleus

nuclear binding energy

the general trend for this is as the nucleus increases in size and number of nucleons, the nuclear binding energy increases until Iron (Fe). After Iron, the nuclear binding energy decreases due to the nucleus being so large

nuclear binding energy

short range proton-to-neutron or proton-to-proton or neutron-to-neutron attractive forces that help hold together the nucleus of an atom

nuclear force

-process where low mass nuclei combine into heavier more stable nuclei -this releases massive amounts of energy. Such as seen in the Sun & stars.

nuclear fusion

the name followed by the Atomic mass Ex: 14-nucleon # N 7-proton #

nuclear notation

this refers to the particles or electromagnetic radiation emitted from the nucleus during radioactive decay

nuclear radiation

this terms refers to the components of an atom's nucleus

nucleons

this term refers to the nucleus of an atom. It is without electrons.

nuclide

is a particle with the same mass as an electron, but possessing a positive charge

positron

this is defined as the spontaneous disintegration (falling apart) of a nucleus into a smaller and lighter (AMUs) by emitting (releasing) particles, electromagnetic radiation, or both

radioactive decay

marie curie was the first woman to win a Nobel in Prize in 1903 for her work on __________________.

radioactivity

prevents escape of radiation

shielding

how do neutrons reduce instability within the nucleus?

they are needed to increase the nuclear force between protons and decrease the repulsive forces between protons

if you change the atomic number, you change the element

transmutation

drives an electric generator

turbine

-an innermost electron is captured by the nucleus and combines with a proton to create a neutron. -the atomic number decreases by 1, but the atomic mass remains the same in AMUs.

Electron Capture

"means to come together as one"

Fusion

which type of radioactive decay is shielded by several layers of lead?

Gamma

-this is high energy electromagnetic radiation that is emitted as the nucleus goes from an excited state to a ground state -this is similar to electrons emitting photons as they go from an excited to ground state -the electromagnetic wave is emitting energy -this is the most penetrating intense form of radiation. (It can penetrate lead)

Gamma Emission