Nuclear Chemistry

Question 1

Define nuclear chemistry

Answer 1

° chemistry within atom nucleus

° not a chemical reaction

°releases energy: radiation (gamma radiation)

Question 2

2 types of nuclear chemistry

Answer 2

° fusion
- occurs within stars
- the intense gravitational forces-fuses smaller atoms together
E.g. H becomes He
- elements bigger than Ii were formed in stars

° fission
- humans primarily use
- splitting of nuclei; typically use of atoms with large nucleus
- splitting of nuclei - releases great deal of energy (gamma radiation)
E.g.
- nuclear missile/atomic bombs
- medicine
- energy production

Question 3

Which type of nuclear chemistry does humans primarily use?

Answer 3

Fission

Question 4

Define nuclear decay

Answer 4

-Unstable radioisotopes
- their nuclei want to break down and they will
. When it breaks down - releases radiation

Question 5

Define Emissions

Answer 5

Emission of energy - particles and electromagnetic rays from nucleus of an unstable atom

Question 6

Type of emissions

Answer 6

• Alpha particle
• beta particle
• gamma ray

Question 7

Alpha particle equivalent to

Answer 7

Helium nucleus

Question 8

Beta particle equivalent to

Answer 8

An electron

Question 9

Gamma ray equivalent to

Answer 9

A high energy X-ray

Question 10

Speed of alpha particle

Answer 10

10% speed of light

Question 11

Speed of beta particle

Answer 11

90% speed of light

Question 12

Speed of gamma ray

Answer 12

Speed of light

Question 13

Alpha particle charge

Answer 13

+2 - positive 2

Question 14

Charge of beta particle

Answer 14

-1- negative 1

Question 15

Charge of gamma ray

Answer 15

O- neutral

Question 16

What can nuclear decay do to elements?

Answer 16

• Can transmute element
  E.g. Now uranium eventually decays into lead

Question 17

Define half life

Answer 17

Rate of nuclear decay
Time taken for half of radioisotopes to become non- radioactive

E.g. Gold-200: half life - 48 minutes

Question 18

Define fusion

Answer 18

• Occurs within stars
• the intense gravitational forces fuses smaller atoms together
  e.g. H becomes He
• elements bigger than Li were formed in stars

Question 19

Define fission

Answer 19

• humans primarily use
• splitting of nuclei; typically use of atoms with large nucleus
• splitting of nuclei - releases great deal of energy (gamma radiation)
  E.g.
• nuclear missile/atomic bombs
• medicine
• energy production

Question 20

Define radioisotopes

Answer 20

atoms with unstable nucleus (protons + neutrons)

Question 21

Define radioactivity

Answer 21

Process by which a radioisotope or unstable atomic nucleus loses energy, emitting radiation.