Nuclear Chemistry Chad Van for Nuclear Engineering

2.  A radioisotope is a radioactive isotope of an element.
 Ex: A natural radioisotope of Uranium-238 is Uranium-235
 Radioisotopes are constantly decaying into other
elements.
 The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time it takes for
one half of a sample of that isotope to decay.
 Question: If you have 8 grams of an element and its half-life is
1 day, how many grams are left after 3 days?
Radioisotopes

3.  - Carbon-14 is a well known radioactive
isotope that is used in radiocarbon
dating.
 - It has a half-life of 5730 years.
- Based on its half-life, scientists can
determine the age of plant, animal, and
object remains.
-Note: this works up to 30,000 years
Radioisotopes

4.  One way to make a stable nucleus unstable is with a
nuclear bombardment reaction.
 An atom is bombarded with a stream of particles such as
alpha (α) particles, forming a new nucleus
 Ex:
4
2
α +
14
7
N →
17
8
O +
1
1
H
Radioisotopes

5. Harnessing the Nucleus
 In a nuclear fission reaction, a large nucleus is split
into two smaller nuclei of approximately equal mass.
 Ex:
1
0
n +
235
92
U →
236
92
U →
141
56
Ba +
92
36
Kr + 3
1
0
n
 ***Mass and charge are conserved***
 Ex: atomic bomb
 Massive amounts of energy are released and can be
calculated by the equation: E = 𝑚𝑐2
 When one fission reaction occurs, many more follow
behind the first, creating a chain reaction.

6. Harnessing the Nucleus
 Nuclear reactors are not able to explode like an atomic
bomb because they are regulated by control rods that
slow down the speed of the neutrons.

7. Harnessing the Nucleus
 In a nuclear fusion reaction, two small nuclei join to
form a large nucleus.
 Ex:
2
1
H +
3
1
H →
4
2
He +
1
0
n
 ***Mass and charge are conserved***
 Ex: the sun
 Fusion reactions are still in the experimental stage
because they are very difficult to create and control.

8. ☺