Nuclear Chemistry

Atomic number (Z) = number of protons in nucleus

Mass number (A) = number of protons + number of neutrons
= atomic number (Z) + number of neutrons

Mass Number A
ZX
Element Symbol
Atomic Number

proton neutron electron positron a particle

1p 1H 1n 0e 0b 0e 0b 4He 4a
1 or 1 0 -1 or -1 +1 or +1 2 or 2

A 1 1 0 0 4

Z 1 0 -1 +1 2
 Balancing Nuclear Equations

1. Conserve mass number (A).

The sum of protons plus neutrons in the products must equal
the sum of protons plus neutrons in the reactants.
235 138 96
92 U + 10n 55 Cs + 37 Rb + 2 10n

235 + 1 = 138 + 96 + 2x1

2. Conserve atomic number (Z) or nuclear charge.

The sum of nuclear charges in the products must equal the
sum of nuclear charges in the reactants.
235 138 96
92 U + 10n 55 Cs + 37 Rb + 2 10n
92 + 0 = 55 + 37 + 2x0
212Podecays by alpha emission. Write the balanced
nuclear equation for the decay of 212Po.
4
alpha particle - 42He or 2a

212Po 4He + AZX

84 2

212 = 4 + A A = 208

84 = 2 + Z Z = 82

212Po 4He + 208

84 2 82Pb
Example 19.1

Balance the following nuclear equations (that is, identify the

product X):

(a) Po → Pb + X

(b) Cs → Ba + X
Example 19.1 (1)

Strategy
In balancing nuclear equations, note that the sum of atomic
numbers and that of mass numbers must match on both
sides of the equation.

Solution
(a) The mass number and atomic number are 212 and 84,
respectively, on the left-hand side and 208 and 82,
respectively, on the right-hand side. Thus, X must have a
mass number of 4 and an atomic number of 2, which
means that it is an α particle. The balanced equation is

Po → Pb + ∝
8
Example 19.1 (2)

(b) In this case, the mass number is the same on both sides of
the equation, but the atomic number of the product is 1 more
than that of the reactant. Thus, X must have a mass number
of 0 and an atomic number of -1, which means that it is a β
particle. The only way this change can come about is to have
a neutron in the Cs nucleus transformed into a proton and an
electron; that is, n → p + (note that this process does
not alter the mass number). Thus, the balanced equation is

Cs → Ba +

9
Example 19.1 (3)

Check

Note that the equation in (a) and (b) are balanced for nuclear
particles but not for electrical charges. To balance the charges,
we would need to add two electrons on the right-hand side of
(a) and express barium as a cation Ba in (b).

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 Nuclear Stability
• Certain numbers of neutrons and protons are extra stable
• n or p = 2, 8, 20, 50, 82 and 126
• Like extra stable numbers of electrons in noble gases
(e- = 2, 10, 18, 36, 54 and 86)
• Nuclei with even numbers of both protons and neutrons
are more stable than those with odd numbers of neutron
and protons
• All isotopes of the elements with atomic numbers higher
than 83 are radioactive
• All isotopes of Tc and Pm are radioactive
n/p too large
beta decay

n/p too small

positron decay or electron capture
 40Ca = heaviest nuclide where N = Z
107Ag = stable (N/Z = 1.28)
1H & 3He = stable nuclides with N/Z < 1
Sample Problem Predicting Nuclear Stability

PROBLEM: Which of the following nuclides would you predict to be

stable and which radioactive? Explain.
18 32 236 123
(a) 10 Ne (b)16S (c) 90 Th (d) 56 Ba

PLAN: In order to evaluate the stability of each nuclide, we

determine the N and Z values and the N/Z ratio. We can
then compare these to the values for stable nuclides. We
also note whether Z and N are even or odd.

SOLUTION:
(a) 18Ne is Radioactive.
This nuclide has N = (18 – 10) = 8 and Z = 10, so the N/Z ratio is
18 – 10
= 0.8, which is too low to be stable.
10
Sample Problem

(b) 32S is stable.

This nuclide has N = Z = 16, so N/Z = 1.0.
With Z < 20 and even values for N and Z, this nuclide is most likely to
be stable.
(c) 236Th is radioactive.
This nuclide has Z = 90, and every nuclide with Z > 83 is radioactive.

(d) 123Ba is radioactive.

This nuclide has N = 67 and Z = 56, so N/Z = 1.20.
For Z values of 55 to 60, Figure 19.1 shows that N/Z ≥ 1.3, so this
nuclide has too few neutrons to be stable
 Nuclear Stability and Radioactive Decay

Beta decay
14C 14N +-10b
6 7 Decrease # of neutrons by 1
40K 40Ca + -10b
19 20 Increase # of protons by 1
1n 1p + -10b
0 1

Positron decay
11C 11B ++10b
6 5 Increase # of neutrons by 1
38 38Ar ++10b
19K 18 Decrease # of protons by 1
1p 1n ++10b
1 0
 Nuclear Stability and Radioactive Decay
Electron capture decay
37Ar +-10e 37Cl
18 17 Increase # of neutrons by 1
55Fe +-10e 55Mn
26 25 Decrease # of protons by 1
1p + -10e 1n
1 0

Alpha decay

Decrease # of neutrons by 2
212Po 4He + 208
84 2 82Pb
Decrease # of protons by 2

Spontaneous fission

252Cf 2125 In + 21n

98 49 0
Modes of Radioactive Decay*
Modes of Radioactive Decay*
 Predicting the Mode of Decay

Nuclide type Description Mode of Decay

neutron-rich high N/Z β– decay

neutron → proton, lowers N/Z

proton-rich low N/Z β+ emission or e– capture

proton → neutron, increases N/Z

heavy nuclides Z > 83 α decay

reduces both Z and N
Sample Problem Predicting the Mode of Nuclear Decay

PROBLEM: Predict the nature of the nuclear change(s) each of the

following radioactive nuclides is likely to undergo:
12 234 81 127
(a) 5B (b) 92 U (c) 33 As (d) 57 La

PLAN: If the nuclide is too heavy to be stable (Z > 83), it undergoes α

decay. For other cases, we use the Z value to obtain its
atomic mass from the periodic table.
If the mass number of the nuclide is much higher than the
atomic mass, the nuclide has too many neutrons: N is too
high and β– decay occurs.
If the mass number is much lower than the atomic mass, the
nuclide has too many protons: Z is too high and the nuclide
decays by β+ emission or e- capture.
Sample Problem

SOLUTION:
(a) 12B has Z = 5 and its atomic mass is 10.81. The nuclide’s A value
of 12 is significantly higher than its atomic mass, so it is neutron
rich.
It will probably undergo β– decay.

(b) 234U
has Z = 92, so it will undergo α decay and decrease its total
mass.

(c) 81As has Z = 33 and its atomic mass is 74.92. The A value of 81 is
much higher than the atomic mass, so it is neutron rich and will
probably undergo β– decay.
(d) 127Lahas Z = 57 and its atomic mass is 138.9. The A value of 127
is much lower than the atomic mass, so it is proton rich and will
probably undergo β+ emission or e– capture.