Nuclear Chemistry

What is Nuclear Chemistry?

Nuclear Chemistry is the study of elements and

subatomic particles that are considered
radioactive and unstable.

An element is
considered unstable
if it has an excess or
dearth in neutrons
in the nucleus.
Therefore any nuclei
with an unstable
isotope is
considered to be
radioactive.

What is the definition of isotope?

Every element has a specific

number of protons. But almost
every element can have
varying numbers of neutrons.
This means every element has
more than one common mass
number. These different types
of compositions (excess or
decrease in neutrons) of an
element are called its
isotopes.

What is Radiation?

 Radiation is the emission of energy as

electromagnetic waves or as moving
subatomic particles.

Excess or decreased number of

subatomic particles puts the element in
an unstable state so it releases the
energy and the subatomic particles

Are there different types of

radiation?

Yes, There are 3 different types of

radiation.
Alpha Radiation
Beta Radiation
Gamma Radiation

Charge: Positive
Symbol:
Distance Traveled: 2-4 Cm

Alpha radiation is composed of

two neutrons and two protons,
the same composition as the
nucleus of Helium.

During Alpha decay the nucleus is

released, and the element itself
changes.
For example in Uranium two
neutrons are released and the
element that forms is Thorium

Charge: Negative
Symbol:
Distance Traveled: 2-3m

Charge: Neutral
Symbol:
Distance Traveled: 500m

Radioactivity was first

discovered by Antoine
Henri Becquerel he
started a procedure
which consisted of
conducting an
experiment with the
exposure of uraniumbearing crystals in direct
sunlight.

Henri Becquerel
placed the crystals
in a photographic
plate, as he set it
up in direct sunlight
they produced a
mirror image of the
crystal onto the
plate.

Antoine Henri Becquerel then theorized that

energy was being released from the uranium
that ended up producing waves of energy, in
what we now call, x-rays.

Henri Becquerel accidentally found out that uranium had

internal energy that was being released., as the direct
sunlight was clouded by weather, yet the image was still
produced. He theorized that the uranium released energy
on its own.

Pierre Curie/Marie Curie: While

experimenting with uranium-ore they
came with the term radioactivity to
define the random emission that they
studied. In a comparison between
pure uranium and uranium ore they
found that the ore contained higher
radioactivity and that uranium-ore
also contained components that pure
uranium did not have.

These
radioactive
components lead
to the discovery
of polonium and
radium.

Ernest Rutherford
1871-1937: Gave
way to lots of
knowledge and
exposure to
radioactive material.

He later
discovered alpha
and beta rays,
set the laws for
radioactive
decay, and
identified alpha
particles.

What are common types of

radioactive materials?

Potassium
AlkaliM etal

Atomic Number: 19
Atomic Weight: 39.0983
Melting Point: 336.53 K (63.38C or 146.08F)
Boiling Point: 1032 K (759C or 1398F)
Density: 0.89 g/cm3
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Element Classification: Metal

Potassium is the
smallest atomic number
based element that goes
through radioactive
decay and has
radioactive isotopes in
high frequency.

Uranium
Atomic Number: 92
Atomic Weight: 238.02891
Melting Point: 1408 K (1135C or 2075F)
Boiling Point: 4404 K (4131C or 7468F)
Density: 18.95 grams per cubic centimeter
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Element Classification: Metal

Through a process called nuclear fission which is just the bombarding of

neutrons , This changes the number of neutrons in the element, which leads to
the element becoming unstable and with a lot of kinetic energy. Leading to it
splitting initially into two lighter elements. Which then releases the energy that
was keeping and sustaining the bond in the unstable atom.

Thorium
Atomic Number: 92
Atomic Weight: 238.02891
Melting Point: 1408 K (1135C or 2075F)
Boiling Point: 4404 K (4131C or 7468F)
Density: 18.95 grams per cubic centimeter
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Element Classification: Metal

Are there elements that are common

in an unstable or radioactive
state?

Promethium
Atomic Number: 92
Atomic Weight: 238.02891
Melting Point: 1408 K (1135C or 2075F)
Boiling Point: 4404 K (4131C or 7468F)
Density: 18.95 grams per cubic centimeter
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Element Classification: Metal

Technetium

Technetium is a product of nuclear fission in

some cases. This element does not have a
stable isotope, and is radioactive in all forms.