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Chemistry Unit 10
Unit 10: Nuclear Chemistry
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Nuclear Stability | Only certain ratios of protons to neutrons within a nucleus are stable |
| Radioactive Decay | Process by which an unstable nucleus emits a particle and/or energy from its nucleus in order to become more stable |
| Transmutation | The nuclear change from one element into another |
| Detecting Radioactivity | Nuclear radiation forms ions by removing electrons from matter it passes through (stripped-away electrons can be detected) |
| Geiger Counter | Device that produces an electric current when radiation is present. (learn the other parts too) |
| Alpha Decay: Alpha Radiation | Consists of positively charged particles with a charge of +2 and a mass of 4 |
| Beta Decay: Beta Radiation | Consists of negatively charged particles identical in their properties to electrons |
| Gamma Decay: Gamma Radiation | Consists of high-energy photons of very short wavelength. Frequently accompanies other types of nuclear particle decay. |
| Positron Emission | Consists of the antiparticle of the electron being emitted from a nucleus. Results from a proton being converted to a neutron. |
| Electron Capture (EC) | Occurs when an inner electron is absorbed by the nucleus. Also known as Inverse Beta Decay. EC also results in a proton being converted to a neutron. |
| Spontaneous Fission (SF) | The splitting of a heavy nuclide into two lighter nuclides with similar mass numbers. Can only occur with nuclides with mass numbers over 230. |
| Half-Life | The time required for the number of radioactive nuclides to reach half of their original value. The half-life of a radioactive isotope cannot be altered. |
| Induced Radioactivity | A stable nucleus can be made radioactive bombarding it with neutrons, alpha particles or small nuclides of elements. |
| Neutron Bombardment | Some nuclides readily absorb neutrons |
| Nuclear Fusion | Light nuclei combine to form a heavy nucleus and energy |
| Health Effects of Radiation | Radiation damage is classified into categories: (1) Somatic Damage and (2) Genetic Damage |
| (1) Somatic Damage | Damage to the organism itself, resulting in sickness or death |
| (2) Genetic Damage | Damage to the genetic machinery, which produces malfunctions in the offspring of the organism |
| Biological effects of radiation depends on 4 main factors | (1) The energy of the radiation. (2) Penetrating ability of radiation (gamma > beta > alpha). (3) Ionizing ability of radiation (alpha > beta > gamma). (4) Chemical properties of radiation damage |
| Two-debated modles for radiation damage | (1) Linear. (2) Threshold. |
| Practice Uses of Radioactivity | Carbon-14 Dating (learn the process), Food Irradiation, Medical Diagnosis, Cancer Treatment, Smoke Alarms, Generation of Electrical Power, and Weapons of Mass Destruction |
| Food Irradiation | Certain food products are irradiated to kill bacteria and extend shelf-life |
| Medical Diagnosis | Radioactive tracer isotopes are used to monitor bodily processes and diagnose medical problems |
| Cancer Treatment | Gamma radiation from radioactive isotopes (Co-60) can be used to destroy cancer cells and other undesirable tissues |
| Smoke Alarms | Most smoke alarms contain radioactive isotope: Americium-241 |
| Generation of Electrical Power | Nuclear fission reactors produce 10% (2021) of the world's electrical power |
| Nuclear WMD's | 9 countries currently possess over 15,000 atomic (fission) and/or thermonuclear (fusion) bomb warhead stockpiles |
| Nuclear Power Plants | Neutrons produced by the fission of U-235 allow for a self-sustaining fission process called a chain reaction |
| 3 Stages of Fission Chain Reaction | Subcritical, Critical, and Supercritical |
| Subcritical | On average, less than one neutron from each fission event causes an additional fission event (process dies out) |
| Critical | Exactly one neutron from each fission event causes another fission event (process sustains istelf) |
| Supercritical | More than one neutron from each fission event causes an additional fission event (process rapidly escalates exponentially - i.e., atomic bomb) |
| Reactor Core | Contains fuel rods, control rods, and moderator |
| Fuel Rods | Contain enriched U-235 pellets. Mined uranium ore = 0.7% U-235. Enriched uranium ore = 3% U-235 (critical mass). |
| Control Rods | Placed between fuel rods to absorb neutrons (control the rate of fission) |
| Moderator* | Liquid water circulated through reactor core to remove and circulate heat and slow down neutrons (learn the other steps) |
| Nuclear Waste | A typically large reactor will produce 27 tons of spent fuel rods each year |
Created by:
sara!
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