2/4/2010

Nuclear Reactions
Nuclear reactions Radiation Fission Fusion

Author: J R Reid

Nuclear Reactions
In a chemical reaction bonds between atoms are broken or made. This is essentially the swapping of electrons in and out of electron shells Nuclear reactions are different. They involve changes occurring in the nucleus of an atom. A nucleus contains protons and neutrons, so any event that adds or removes these nucleons is called a nuclear reaction When a nuclear reaction occurs all the mass numbers and atomic numbers on both sides must balance. The one below does not balance
The reaction to the left shows chlorines nucleus changing. What has it lost?
37 17 35 17

Cl

Cl

2/4/2010

Radiation
It takes a huge amount of energy to break the nucleons (protons and neutron) apart and to force them together. As these events occur often particles are emitted form the nucleus at great speed. These particles are known as nuclear radiation and they come in three forms:
Alpha particles () Beta particle () Gamma rays ()

These particles are made of specific components and therefore they have specific properties

Alpha Particles ()
An alpha particle is a fast moving Helium nucleus ( 4He ) 2 Because of their mass they can be stopped something the thickness of paper Of the three types of radiation it travels the slowest
Here is a nuclear reaction that shows the emission of an alpha particle. Note that the mass (top) and atomic (bottom) number balance on both sides of the equation
221 88

Ra

4 2

He +

217 86

Rn

2/4/2010

Beta Particles ()
Beta particle are fast moving electrons ( ) They have little mass so they can pass 10cm into wood before being stopped They move fast They are created by a neutron emitting an electron, turning it into a proton
1 0

0 -1

e + 1p

Note: The mass number stays the same because the electron it loses has no mass. One neutron has changed however, it has turned into a proton therefore increasing the mass number

14 6

14 7

N + -1e

Gamma Rays ()
Gamma rays are just high energy electromagnetic radiation (sort of like light, UV rays, X-rays etc) It has no charge and no mass therefore when it is emitted from a nucleus there are no changes to the nucleus. It is a way of removing excess energy They are extremely fast (moving at the speed of light) They can penetrate solids very well. About 60cm of lead will stop gamma rays

2/4/2010

Other Particles
Some other particles my be emitted during a nuclear reaction:
Protons ( 1p) 1 Neutrons ( 1n) 0 Positrons (positive electrons) ( 0e) 1

Half-Life
Some isotopes are stable, some are not. An unstable isotope will lose bits of its nucleus until it reaches a stable configuration The amount of time it takes for half of the mass of an unstable isotope to break down is called its halflife. For example cobalt-60 (cobalt with a mass number of 60) has a half life of 5.26 years. So after 5.26 years 100g of 60Co will decay into 50g of 60Co. Then after another 5.26 years that 50g of 60Co will decay into 25g (half the original mass)an so on.

2/4/2010

Fission
Nuclear fission is the term given to any nuclear reaction where a large nucleus is broken down into smaller ones.
235 92

U + 0n

146 57

La + 35 Br + 30n

87

This is the process used to produce nuclear power because of the heat energy given off during the reaction As can be seen in the reaction above a uranium atom has been bombarded by a neutron which causes a split into two nuclei and the production of 3 more neutrons to keep the reaction happening

Nuclear Fusion
A nuclear reaction that involves to smaller nuclei combining to form on larger one is called nuclear fusion
2 1

H + 1H

4 2

He

This is the process that fuels our Sun as it converts hydrogen into helium