2. ๏ต Nuclear reactions are different from chemical
reactions
Nuclear Reactions vs Chemical
Reactions
Chemical
Reactions
Mass is
conserved
(doesnโt
change)
Small
energy
changes
No changes in the
nuclei; involve ONLY
valance electrons
Nuclear
Reactions
Small
changes in
mass
Huge energy
changes
protons, neutrons,
electrons and
gamma rays can be
lost or gained
3. Particles Involved in Nuclear
Equations
Common name Symbol
Helium-4 nucleus alpha particle a, 2
4 ๐ป๐
electron
beta particle
ฮฒ-, โ1
0
๐ฝ, e-
positron ฮฒ+, +1
0
๐ฝ, e+
proton p, 1
1
๐, 1
1
๐ป
neutron n, 0
1
๐
photon gamma ray ฮณ
4. Balancing Nuclear Equations
๏ต The sums of mass numbers (left superscripts) on each side
must be equal.
๏ต The sums of atomic numbers or nuclear charges (left
subscripts) on each side of the equation must be equal.
Examples:
92
238
๐ผ 2
4
๐ฏ๐ + 90
234
๐ป๐
82
214
๐ท๐ โ1
0
๐ท + 83
214
๐ฉ๐
๏ต Charges are not included in nuclear equations except to
distinguish between the two types of b particles