Unit 1 Atomic Structure

Bravo 15,000 kilotons

Modern Atomic Theory

All matter is composed of atoms

Atoms cannot be subdivided, created, or destroyed in ordinary chemical reactions. However, these changes CAN occur in nuclear reactions!
Atoms of an element have a characteristic average mass which is unique to that element.

Atoms of any one element differ in properties from atoms of another element

Nuclear Symbols
Mass number (p+ + no)

235 92

Element symbol

Atomic number (number of p+)

Types of Radioactive Decay

alpha production (a): helium nucleus 238 4 234 92 U 2 He 90Th
0 beta production (b): 1 e 4 He2+ 2

234 234 90Th 91Pa

0 1e

Alpha Radiation
Limited to VERY large nucleii.

Beta Radiation
Converts a neutron into a proton.

Types of Radioactive Decay

gamma ray production (g):
238 4 U 2 He 92 234 90Th

20 g 0

0 positron production 1 e :
22 Na 0 e 11 1

22 10 Ne

electron capture: (inner-orbital electron is captured by the nucleus)

201 Hg 0 e 201Au 80 1 79

0g 0

Types of Radiation

Deflection of Decay Particles

attract Opposite charges_________ each other. repel Like charges_________ each other.

Nuclear Stability
Decay will occur in such a way as to return a nucleus to the band (line) of stability.

Half-life Concept

Sample Half-Lives

A radioactive nucleus reaches a stable state by a series of steps

A Decay Series

Nuclear Fission and Fusion

Fusion: Combining two light nuclei to form a heavier, more stable nucleus.

3 1 4 0 2 He 1H 2 He 1e
Fission: Splitting a heavy nucleus into two nuclei with smaller mass numbers.

1 235 142 91 1 0 n 92 U 56 Ba 36 Kr 30 n

Energy and Mass

Nuclear changes occur with small but measurable losses of mass. The lost mass is called the mass defect, and is converted to energy according to Einsteins equation: DE = Dmc2 Dm = mass defect DE = change in energy c = speed of light Because c2 is so large, even small amounts of

mass are converted to enormous amount of energy.

Fission

Fission Processes
A self-sustaining fission process is called a chain reaction.

Neutrons Causing Event Fission subcritical <1 critical =1 supercritical >1

Result reaction stops sustained reaction violent explosion

A Fission Reactor

Fusion