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Chemistry
Lesson 12A
Consists of
Symbol
Alpha radiation
Beta radiation
Gamma radiation
High-energy electromagnetic
radiation
,
4
2
0
1
Charge
Mass
(amu)
2+
1/1837
Penetrating
power
Low
(0.05 mm body
tissue)
Moderate
(4 mm body
tissue)
Very high
(penetrates body
easily)
Alpha RadiationSome radioactive sources emit helium nuclei, which are also called alpha particles.
Each alpha particle contains two protons and two neutrons and has a double positive charge. The symbol
for an alpha particle is or 42 He .
The radioisotope uranium-238 emits alpha radiation and is transformed into another radioisotope,
thorium-234. When an atom loses an alpha particle, the atomic number of the product is lower by two and
its mass number is lower by four.
Because of their large mass and charge, alpha particles do not travel very far and are not very penetrating.
A sheet of paper or the surface of your skin can stop them. But radioisotopes that emit alpha particles can
cause harm when ingested. Once inside the body, the particles dont have to travel far to penetrate soft
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Chemistry
Lesson 12A
tissue.
Beta RadiationAn electron resulting from the breaking apart of a neutron in an
atom is called a beta particle. The neutron breaks apart into a proton, which remains
in the nucleus, and a fast-moving electron, which is released. The symbol for a beta
particle is or 01 . Note that the symbol has a subscript of 1 and a superscript of 0.
The 1 represents the charge on the electron. The 0 represents the extremely small mass
of the electron compared to the mass of a proton.
Carbon-14 is a radioisotope. It emits a beta particle as it decays and forms nitrogen-14. When an
atom emits a beta particle, the atomic number of the product increases by 1 but the mass number
stays the same.
A beta particle has less charge than an alpha particle and much less mass than an alpha particle. Thus,
beta particles are more penetrating than alpha particles. Beta particles can pass through paper but are
stopped by aluminum foil or thin pieces of wood. Because of their opposite charges, alpha and beta
radiation can be separated by an electric field, as shown below.
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Chemistry
Lesson 12A
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Chemistry
Lesson 12A
Lesson Check
1. DescribeDescribe the characteristics of alpha radiation.
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2. DescribeDescribe the characteristics of beta radiation
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3. DescribeDescribe the characteristics of gamma radiation.
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4. ReviewIn the table below, each row lists information about one type of nuclear radiation. Complete
the table by filling in the missing information in each row.
Type
Alpha particle
Symbol
,
Charge
Mass (amu)
1/1837
4
2
5. Apply ConceptsHow can an electric field be used to separate alpha radiation and beta radiation
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Chemistry
Lesson 12A