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Chemistry-Physics Notes: 7. Radioactivity alpha & beta radioactive decay nuclear equations
7. What actually happens in alpha, beta and gamma radioactive decay and why? Stability band, decay modes and lots of nuclear equations and production of radioisotopes - artificial sources Doc Brown's Chemistry - KS4 science GCSE Physics Revision Notes Sub-index for this page Some reminders and balancing nuclear equations Alpha decay - nuclear expulsion of a helium nucleus Beta minus decay - nuclear expulsion of a negative electron Gamma decay - nuclear expulsion of high energy gamma photon Beta plus decay - nuclear expulsion of a positive electron (a positron) The production of radioisotopes by neutron bombardment Isotope stability curve graph related to modes of radioactive decay Radioactive decay and quarks (NOT for GCSE students!) Particle accelerators - the cyclotron for making radioisotopes RADIOACTIVITY and NUCLEAR PHYSICS NOTES INDEX
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Introductory
reminder
notes on atomic structure and radioactivity
AND balancing nuclear equations (1) The emission of an alpha particle or beta particle leads to a change in the composition of a nucleus in terms of protons or neutrons. The emission of a gamma photon does NOT change the composition of the nucleus, it only lowers the energy associated with the nucleus after the radioactive decay has taken place. Gamma radiation often accompanies radioactive decay by alpha particle or beta particle emission. (2) The mode of radioactive decay (emission), i.e. alpha (helium nucleus), beta minus (electron) and beta plus (positron), or not at all for a stable nucleus, strongly depends on the neutron/proton ratio, how high the atomic number is and the energy state of the nucleus.
How to balance nuclear equations:
TOP OF PAGE and sub-index for this page 7a. What happens overall in Alpha, Beta and Gamma Radioactive Decay?
ALPHA DECAY: Alpha particle emission, helium nucleus emitted reminder
TOP OF PAGE and sub-index for this page BETA DECAY: beta minus decay, negative electron emitted reminder
TOP OF PAGE and sub-index for this page GAMMA DECAY - PHOTON EMISSION reminder
TOP OF PAGE and sub-index for this page BETA DECAY: beta plus decay, positron (positive electron) emitted reminder
TOP OF PAGE and sub-index for this page Decay by NEUTRON EMISSION
NUCLEAR FISSION and NUCLEAR FUSION equations
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TOP OF PAGE and sub-index for this page
7b. The production of radioisotopes - how to make artificial sources of radioactivity by bombarding atoms with neutrons
TOP OF PAGE and sub-index for this page ISOTOPE STABILITY CURVE GRAPH and MODES of RADIOACTIVE DECAY (Details NOT required for GCSE students! - just the general idea of a stability band)
(1) Plot of proton number (atomic number) versus neutrons in the isotopes of the elements 1 to 30
(2) Plot of proton number (atomic number) versus neutrons in the isotopes of the elements 1 to 70.
(3) Plot of proton number (atomic number) versus neutrons in the isotopes of the elements 1 to 102.
23892U =α=> 23490Th =β=> 23491Pa =β=> 23492U =α=> 23090Th =α=> 22688Ra =α=> 22286Rn =α=> 21884Po =α=>21482Pb ... and unstable lead-214 then decays by four beta decays and two alpha particle decays to stable lead-206 ... 21482Pb =β=> 21483Bi =β=> 21484Po =α= 21082Pb =β=> 21083Bi =β=>21084Po =α=> 20682Pb ... the half-lives of theses unstable nuclei range from a few minutes to a few million years, so the overall decay process takes many millions of years! TOP OF PAGE and sub-index for this page APPENDIX 2 RADIOACTIVE DECAY and QUARKS (NOT for GCSE students!)
TOP OF PAGE and sub-index for this page APPENDIX 3 Particle accelerators - the cyclotron for making radioisotopes
Important note:
(i) fluorine-18 18F, is made by bombarding oxygen-18 with protons
(ii) carbon-11 11C, is made by bombarding nitrogen atoms with protons
(iii) nitrogen-13 13N, is made by bombarding oxygen atoms with protons
(iv) oxygen-15 15O, is made by bombarding nitrogen with positive deuterons (hydrogen-2)
A cyclotron can be used to produce positron emitting radioisotopes (beta plus emitters) used for PET scanning in medicine. Other uses of particle accelerators
What next? Associated Pages RADIOACTIVITY and NUCLEAR PHYSICS NOTES INDEX See also Electromagnetic radiation, types, properties, uses and dangersGCSE Level (~US grade 8-10) School Physics Notes (students age ~14-16) GCSE Level (~US grade 8-10) School Chemistry Notes (students age ~14-16) Find your GCSE science course for more help links to revision notes ALL my Advanced Level pre-university Chemistry Notes (students aged ~17-18) Email doc brown - comment? query Atomic structure, radioactivity and nuclear physics revision notes index Atomic structure, history, definitions, examples and explanations including isotopes 1. Atomic structure and fundamental particle knowledge needed to understand radioactivity 2. What is Radioactivity? Why does it happen? Three types of atomic-nuclear-ionising radiation 3. Detection of radioactivity, its measurement and radiation dose units, ionising radiation sources - radioactive materials, background radiation 4. Alpha, beta & gamma radiation - properties of 3 types of radioactive nuclear emission & symbols ,dangers of radioactive emissions - health and safety issues and ionising radiation 5. Uses of radioactive isotopes emitting alpha, beta (+/–) or gamma radiation in industry and medicine 8. Nuclear fusion reactions and the formation of 'heavy elements' by bombardment techniques 9. Nuclear Fission Reactions, nuclear power as an energy resource
TOP OF PAGE and sub-index for this page RADIOACTIVITY multiple choice QUIZZES and WORKSHEETS Easier Foundation Tier Radioactivity multiple choice QUIZ Harder Higher Tier Radioactivity multiple choice QUIZ Worksheet QUIZ Question 1 on RADIOACTIVITY - absorption of alpha, beta and gamma radiation Worksheet QUIZ Question 2 on RADIOACTIVITY - dangers & monitoring ionising radiation levels Worksheet QUIZ Question 3 on RADIOACTIVITY - revision of atomic structure Worksheet QUIZ Question 4 on RADIOACTIVITY - what happens to atoms in radioactive decay? Worksheet QUIZ Question 5 on RADIOACTIVITY - uses of radioisotope and half-life data ANSWERS to the WORD-FILL WORKSHEET QUIZZES Crossword puzzle on radioactivity and ANSWERS!
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