PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR

TARGET JEE (MAINS/ADVANCED)

RADIOACTIVITY
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
THE KEY

RADIOACTIVITY
The spontaneous emission of particles, electromagnetic radiation or both by unstable nuclei, is known as
radioactivity.

PROPERTIES OF ,-PARTICLES AND -RAYS.

Properties Alpha Beta Gamma

Fast moving He Fast moving High energy
1 Nature
nuclei electrons radiations
4 0 0
2 Representation 2 He or α 1 e or –1 β γ or 00 γ

3 Charge 2 unit (  ve) 1 unit ( ve) No charge

33% to 90% of Same as light
4 Velocity 1/10 of light
light waves
Relative penetrating 1 or (0.01 mm of 100 or (0.1 cm of 10000 or (8 cm lead
5
power Al foil) Al foil) or 25 cm steel)
Travel distance
6 2  4 cm 200  300 cm 500 m
in air
7 Kinetic energy high low –

8 Effect on ZnS plate Luminosity Little effect –

9 Mass g/particle 6.65  10  24 9.11  10  28 –

Relative ionising
10 10000 100 1
power

Kinetic of nuclear distintegration

dN
 Radioactive decay is a first order process. Hence 
dt
= N or N = N0 et

where N = number of radioactive nuclei at any time t ;

N0= number of radioactive nuclei at t = 0 ;
 = decay constant.
dN
 Activity activity (A) = 
dt
= N

S.I. units :
Disintegration per second (symbol s1 or dps). 1 dps = 1 Bq (Becquerel)
Other units:
1Ci (Curie) = 3.7 × 1010dps.
1 Rd (Rutherford) = 106 dps
Specific activity = dps / gm

Radioactivity [2]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
 Half life (t½) The time taken by half the nuclei (originally present) to decay. t½ = 0.693/
1
Note : After n halflives have passed, activity is reduced to n of its initial value.
2

 Average life (t av)

1 t1 / 2
Tavg = = = 1.44 t1/2
 0.693

APPLICATION OF NUCLEAR DISINTEGRATION :

* Determination of volume of blood
* Carbon dating
* Rock dating

THEORIES REGRANDING NEUCLEAR STABILITY

(A) Even odd theory of nuclear stability
The number of stable nuclides is maximum when both p and n are even number.

p n No. of stable nucleus

even even 165
even odd 55
odd even 50
odd odd 5

(B) Magic numbers and nuclear stability

Nuclei with 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82 or 126 protons or neutrons are exceptionally stable and have a larger
number of stable isotopes than neighboring nuclei in the periodic table. These numbers are called
magic numbers. They are supposed to represent completely filled nuclear shells of energy levels.
e.g. 50Sn having 10 stable isotopes while 51Sb has only two stable isotopes.
 Nuclei with magic number of protons as well as neutrons have notably high stabilities.
[eg. 42 He , 16 40
8 O , 20 Ca and
208
82 Pb ]. 165 such stable nuclei are known.

Radioactivity [3]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
(C) Packing Fraction
‘Aston’ expressed relation between
isotopic mass & mass number in terms
of packing fraction.
Packing Fraction
Atomic mass  Mass number
= × 104
Mass number
* pcking fraction of C–12 is
exactly zero.
* packing fraction may be
positive or negative
* negative packing fraction
implies that nuclei is stable
* positive packing fraction
implies that nuclei is unstable
* Some lighter nuclei have
positive packing fraction
although nucleus is stable
* Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd have lowest
packing fraction

(D) Binding Energy : It is defined energy required to break the nucleus into its compoennt protons &
neutrons. Binding energy per nucleon gives a quantitiative measure of nuclear stability.
* Mass defect (m) = mass of neutron + mass of proton – mass of nucleus
Binding energy of nucleus = m c2

* The binding energy for a nucleus containing Z protons and N neutrons can be calculated as
Binding energy = (ZMH + Nmn – AZ M )c2
Note that above equation does not include Zmp, the mass of Z protons. Rather, it contains ZMH, the
mass of Z protons and Z electrons combined as Z neutral 11 H atoms, to balance the Z electrons included

in AZ M , the mass of the neutral atom.

If m = 1 a.m.u then B.E. = 931.5 MeV

B.E.
B.E. per nucleon = No. of nucleons

Radioactivity [4]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
* A very heavy nucleus, say A = 240, has
lower binding energy per nucleon
compared to that of a nucleus with
A = 120. Thus if a nucleus A = 240
breakes into two A = 120 nuclei,
energy would be released in the
process. This implies nucleons get more
tightly bound. It has very important
applications for energy production
through fission.

* Consider two very light nuclei (A  10)

joining to form a heavier nucleus. The
binding energy per nucleon of the
heavier nuclei is more than the binding
energy per nucleon of the lighter nuclei,
again energy would be released in such
a process of fusion.

* Nuclear binding energy is maximum for mass number 50 – 60.

* Fe, Co, Ni very high nuclear binding energy.

(E) Neutron / proton ratio and stability belt

 For atomic number < 20, most stable nuclei have n: p ratio nearly

p
1 : 1 (except H & Ar).

n=
 For n/p ratio > 1.52, nucleus is unstable. Largest stable nucleus is
209
83 Bi for which n/p ratio is 1.52.

 For atomic number > 83, there are no stable nuclei.

Expected emissions from unstable nucleus:

1. n/p ratio above stability belt : Those nucleus which have high value of of n/p ratio (lie above the
0
stability belt) undergoes 1 
decay..

n  p + 0 (antineutrino)
1  

32 32 0
15 P 
 16 S 1
+  

energy

Radioactivity [5]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR

* Beta decay is possible whenever the mass of the original neutral atom is greater than the final
atom.
* The difference between the rest mass energy of the initial constituents and that of the final
products is called the Q-value of the process. Thus, if Ui is the rest mass energy of the initial
constituents and Uf is that of the final products,
Q = Ui – Uf
Q value is positive i.e. isolated nuctron may decay into proton.
* The energy released is shared by antineutrino and beta particle.
* The energy of particle can be any thing between zero & Q.
* Such transformation takes place because of weak forces operating within the nucleus.

2. n/p ratio below stability belt :

(a) -decay
212 208
83 Bi 
 81 T l  42 He

* Observed in nuclei with A > 210

* Mass number & the atomic number of the daughter nucleus decreases by 4 & 2 respectively compared
to parent nucleus.
* Alpha decay may takes place spontaneously or it can be initiated.
* Alpha decay is possible whenever the mass of the original neutral atom is greater than the sum of the
masses of the final neutral atom and the neutral helium-4 atom.
* All the alpha particles coming from a particular decay reaction have the same kinetic energy.

  Positron decay
0
1
0
p  n + 1
+  (neutrio)
* Those nucleus which have low value of of n/p ratio (lie below the stability belt) undergoes 01 decay..
* Q value is negative i.e. isolated proton will not decay into neutron.
* Positron decay is possible whenever the mass of the original neutral atom is greater than at lest two
electron masses larger than the final atom.

Radioactivity [6]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
K electron capture
A 0 A
Z X  1e 
 Z1Y 
106 0 106
47 Ag  1e 
 46 Pd

p + e  n +  (neutrino)
* Electron capture can occur when ever the mass of original neutral atom is larger than that of final atom.
* Those nucleus having low n/p ratio can capture K shell electron.
* X-rays are emitted during the process.

-decay
When an  or  decay takes place, the daughter nucleus generally formed is in excited state & comes to
ground state by a single or successive transitions by emitting electromagnetic radiations i.e.  rays.
60
27 Co  6028m Ni 
 º
1

60 m
 60
28 Ni  28 Ni  00 

60 0
27 Co –1  emission

E = 1.17 MeV
E = 1.33 MeV
60
28 Ni

* Life time of metastable nucleus thus form as life time less than 10–9 sec.
* No. of neutron and proton is unchanged while quantum state of nucleon changes.

RADIOACTIVE DISINTEGRATION SERIES :

Many radioacitve necleus (Z > 82) are obtained in naturee as a member of natural decay series.
The series of nuclear reaction is known as radioacitve disintegration series.

Series Parent Nucleus Last Nucleus No. of  No. of 

4n or Th232 Pb208 6 4
Thorium series
(4n+1) or Pu241 Bi209 8 5
Neptutinum series
4n+2 U238 Pb206 8 6
or Uranium series
4n+3 U235 Pb207 7 4
or Actinium series
4n, 4n + 3 and 4n + 3 series are natural while (4n +1) is artifical.

Radioactivity [7]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
THE THORIUM SERIES :

332 – 228 – 228 – 228 – 224

90Th 88Ra 89Ac 90Th 88Ra

212 212 –
84Po
–
82Pb
208
– – –
212 216 – 220
82Pb 83Bi
208 84Po 86Em
– – 216 –
81Tl –
85At

THE NEPTUNIUM SERIES :

241
–
241 95Am –
237 – 233 233 – 229
94Pu
237 – –
237 93Np 93Np 91Pa 92U 90Th
– –
92U –

213
– 225
84 Po – 221 – 225 –
88Ra
– – 217 –
89 Ac
209
87Fr
209 213
82Pb 85At
83Bi 85 Bi
209
–
– 81 Th

THE URANIUM SERIES :

238 – 238 – 234 – 234 – 234 – 230

92U 90Th 91Pa 91Pa 92U 90Th

214 –
218
210
– 84Po – – 84Po –
214 – 218 222 –
82Pb
226
83Bi 85At 86Em 88Ra
210 214
– – –
81Tl 82Pb
–
–
210 – 210 – 206 –
83Bi
206
84Po 81Tl 82Pb

Radioactivity [8]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
THE ACTINIUM SERIES :

– 227 –
235 – 231 – 231 – 227 90Th 223
92 U 90Th 91 Pa 89Ac 88Ra
– 223
–
87Fr
211 211 –
82 Pb
219
– 84Po – – – –
207 211 215 86Em –
219
82Pb 83 Bi 84 Po 85At
207 215
– 215
81Tl
– 85At – – –
83Bi
–

NUCLEAR REACTIONS
The reactions in which nuclei of atoms interact with other nuclei or elementary particles such as
-particle, proton, neutron, deutron, etc, resulting in the formation of new nuclei with or without liberation
of one or more elementary particles, are called nuclear reactions. The particles resulting nuclear reactions
are also called projectiles. In all the nuclear reactions, the total number of protons and neutrons are
conserved. Nuclear reactions may be expressed as similar as chemical reactions, like
14
+ 2He4  8O17 + 1H1
7N
Here, the nucleus of nitrogen atom is converted in to the nucleus of oxygen atom by a-particle and
proton is also produced as a by-product. These reactions may be expressed by short hand notation, in
which the projectile and the liberating particle are expressed by their symbols, in a small bracket in
between the parent and the product nucleus. For example, the above reaction may also be expressed as:
14 17
7N ( , p) 8O

Some differences between nuclear and chemical reactions

No. Chemical reaction Nuclear reaction

1. No new element is formed New element is formed
2. Valence electrons of atoms participates Only the nucleus of atoms participates
3. Balanced by the conservation of atoms Balanced by the conservation of nuclear charge and
mass number (total number of neutrons and protons)
4. Mass conservation is obeyed Disobey mass conservation
5. May be exothermic or endothermic, liberating May be exothermic or endothermic, liberating or
or absorbing relatively small amount of energy absorbing relatively very high amount of energy
6. May be reversible Irreversible
7. May obey kinetics of any order Obeys only first order kinetics
8. Rate depends on external factors like Rate is independent from any external condition
temperature and the catalytic conditions

Radioactivity [9]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
TYPES OF NUCLEAR REACTIONS:

1. Projectile Capture Reactions:

238 + 0H1  239 + 
92U 92U
27 + 0H1  28 + 
13Al 13Al

2. Particle - particle reactions:

23  23 + 1n1
11Na + 1H 12Mg
23 + 1n2  24 + 1H1
11Na 11Na

3. Spallation reactions: High speed projectiles with 400Mev bombarded on high nucleus giving smaller
nucleus.
63 + 2He4  17Cl37 + 141H1 + 16 0n1
29Cu

4. Fission reactions: It is the nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus is broken down by a slow or
thermal neutron (energy about 0.04 eV) into two relatively smaller nuclei with the emission of two or
more neutrons and large amount of energy. For example,
the reaction of atom bomb: 235 + 0n1  141 92 + 3 0n1 + 200 MeV
92U 56Ba + 36Kr

It is also found that the products of nuclear fission reactions are not unique. Some more products are
formed. The most probable mass numbers of the two nuclides formed are around 95 and 140 and an
average of 2.5 neutrons is emitted out per fission.
235 + 0n1  139 95 + 2 0n1
92U 54Xe + 38Sr

 137 97 + 2 0n1, etc

53I + 39Y

The destructive action of atom bomb is due to the following reasons:

(i) As some neutrons are produced in each fission, they may collide efficiently with the other U235 nuclei to
produce more neutrons and thus the reaction occurs in chain like fashion. It results the emission of a large
amount of energy in very small time.
(ii) Each product of fission is radioactive and hence increases the intensity of radiation in that region, resulting
the problems due to radiations.

5. Fusion reactions: It is the nuclear reaction in which two or more light nuclei fused together to form
heavier nuclei, with the evolution of tremendous amount of energy. In such reactions, relatively more
stable nucleus having higher binding energy per nucleon is formed. Such reaction is difficult to occur
because when the nuclei of different atoms come closer, they repel each other strongly. This is why, very
high temperature of the order 106K is needed for the occurrence of such reactions. However, the overall
reaction is highly exothermic due to large mass defect. Some examples of nuclear fusion reactions are:

Probable reaction of hydrogen bomb: 2 + 1H2  2He4 + 24.9 MeV

1H

Probable reaction occurring at the surface of sun: 4 1H2  2He4 + 2 + +1e0 + 24.7 MeV

Radioactivity [10]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
NUCLEAR REACTOR
A nuclear reactor is the furnace, place where nuclear fission reaction is performed to get energy. The
essentials of a nuclear reactor are:

1. Fuel : Nuclear fuels are of two types:

(i) Fissile materials : These are the nuclides which directly results chain reaction on bombardment with
slow neutrons. Such nuclides are U235, Pu239, U233, etc.

(ii) Fertile material : These are the nuclides which are non-fissile, but they may be converted in to a fissile
material by the action of neutrons. Such nuclides are U238 and Th232.
 
92
U238 + 0n1  92U239*  93
Np239  94
Pu239
 
Th232 + 0n1
90 90
Th233*  91
Pa233  92
U233

Such conversions are performed in a special type of nuclear reactor called Breeder Reactor.

2. Moderator: It is used to slow down the fast neutrons without absorbing them. Example: water, graphite,
helium, D2O etc.

3. Control rods: These are the rods of material which can absorb neutrons and hence control the fission
reaction. Example: Cadmium, boron, etc.

4. Coolant: These are the material which transforms the energy produced in the fission reaction in to heat
energy. Example: Liquid alloy of sodium and potassium, heavy water, polyphenyls, etc

Radioactivity [11]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
ARTIFICAL TRANSMUTATION

It is the method of conversion of atom of one element in to the atom of other element with the help of
some particles like alpha particle, proton, deutron, neutron, etc (called projectiles). The first such
transmutation was performed by Rutherford. When N14 atoms were bombarded by very fast moving
-particles, the nitrogen atom has changed in to oxygen atom and proton is produced simultaneously
14 4 17 1
7N + 2He  8O + 1H
Later on, Rutherford and Chadwick shown that most of the nuclei may be transmuted by the suitable
projectile. After the discovery of cyclotron, a particle accelerating machine, such transmutations become
more easier.

ARTIFICAL RADIOACTIVITY

When Irene Curie and F. Juliot bombarded the atoms of Al27, B10 or Mg24 by fast moving -particles,
protons, neutrons and positrons were produced. They observed that the emission of protons and neutrons
stop on stopping the bombardment but the emission of positron continues. They also observed that the
rate of emission of positron decreases exponentially in the manner similar to natural radioactivity. They
named the isotope emitting positron as artificial radioisotope and the phenomenon as artificial
radioactivity.
27 + 2He4  14Si30 + 1H1
13Al

 15P30 + 0n1

30 + +1e0
14Si

(1) Nuclear fission :

235 1 236
92 U  0 n 92 U 14 92 1
56 Ba  36 Kr  30 n
(Slow )

Fission reactions produce more neutrons than are used to initiate the process. A nuclear fission
chain reaction has three general steps:
(i) Initiation (ii) Propagation (iii) Termination
(2) Nuclear fusion :
6
T  10 K
2 3
1 H 1 H  42 He 10 n  1.7  109 kJ / mol

(3) Spallation reaction :

75 2
33 As 1 H 56 1 1
25 Mn  91 H  12 0 n

(4) Particle capture-particle emission reaction :

10 4
5 B 2 He 13 1
6 C 1 H

(5) Particle capture reaction

40 0 40
19 K  1e 
 18 Ar

Radioactivity [12]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
NUCLEAR TRANSMUTATION

An experiment performed by Rutherford in 1919, however, suggested the possibility of producing

radioactivity artifically. When he bombarded a sample of nitrogen with  particles, the following reaction
took place:
17
14 4
7 K  2 
 8O  11p represented as 147 N (, p) 178 O
An oxygen-17 isotope was produced with the emssion of a proton. This reaction demonstrated for the
first time the feasibility of converting one element into another, by the process of nuclear transmutation.
Nuclear transmutation differs from radioactive decay in that the former is brought about by the collision
of two particles.

TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS

Particle accelerators made it possible to synthesize the so-called transuranium elements, elements with
atomic numbers greater than 92. Neptunium (Z = 93) was first prepared. Since then, many other
transuranium elements have been synthesized. All isotopes of these elements are radioactive.

NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

Quantities of elements that are for too small for chemical analysis can be detected by this method. When
bombarded with neutrons, many stable nuclides absorb a neutron to becomes unstable & then undergo
0
1 
decay. The energies of 10  & 00  depend on the unstable nuclide & provide a means of identifying
its original stable nuclide.

Radioactivity [13]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
EXERCISE - I

Q.1 Classify each of the following nuclides as "beta   emitter", or “positron   emitter”:
0
1
0
1
49 195 8 150 30 94 84 200 165
20 Ca 80 Hg 5 B 67 Ho 13 Al 36Kr . Note: 36 Kr 80 , Hg and 67 Ho are stable

Q.2 Of the three isobars 114

48 Cd
114
49 In and 114
50 Sn
, which is likely to be radioactive? Explain your choice.

Q.3 Complete the following nuclear equations:

(a) 14 4 17
7 N  2 He 8 O  ...... (b) 94 Be  42 He12
6 C  ...... (c) 94 Be (p, )........
30 30 43 46
(d) 15 P 14 S  ...... (e) 13 H 32 He  ...... (f) 20 Ca (,....)  21Sc

Q.4 The activity of the radioactive sample drops to 1/64 of its original value in 2 hr find the decay constant ().

Q.5 The nucleidic ratio of 1H3 to 1H1 in a sample of water is 8.0 × 10–18 : 1. Tritium undergoes decay with a
half life period of 12.3 year. How many tritium atoms would 10.0 g of such a sample contains 40 year
after the original sample is collected?

Q.6 The half life period of 53I125 is 60 days. What % of radioactivity would be present after 240 days.

Q.7 At any given time a piece of radioactive material (t1/2 = 30 days) contains 1012 atoms. Calculate the
activity of the sample in dps.

Q.8 Calculate the age of a vegetarian beverage whose tritium content is only 15% of the level in living plants.
Given t1/2 for 1H3 = 12.3 years.

40 40
Q.9 An isotopes of Potassium 19 K has a half life of 1.4 × 109 year and decays to Argon 18 Ar which is stable.
(i) Write down the nuclear reaction representing this decay.
(ii) A sample of rock taken from the moon contains both potassium and argon in the ratio 1/3. Find age of
rock

Q.10 At a given instant there are 25 % undecayed radioactive nuclei in a sample. After 10 sec the number of
undecayed nuclei remains 12.5 % . Calculate :
(i) mean  life of the nuclei and
(ii) The time in which the number of undecayed nuclear will further reduce to 6.25 % of the reduced number.

Q.11 Calculate the energy released in joules and MeV in the following nuclear reaction:
2 2
1 H 1 H 32 He 10 n

Assume that the masses of 12 H , 3

2 He and neutron (n) respectively are 2.020, 3.0160 and 1.0087 in
amu.

Radioactivity [14]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
Q.12
(a) Calculate number of  and -particles emitted when 92U238 changes into radioactive 82Pb206.
(b) Th234 disintegrates and emits 6- and 7-particles to form a stable element. Find the atomic number and
mass number of the stable product. Also identify the element.

Q.13 One of the hazards of nuclear explosion is the generation of Sr90 and its subsequent incorporation in
bones. This nucleide has a half life of 28.1 year. Suppose one microgram was absorbed by a new-born
child, how much Sr90 will remain in his bones after 20 years?

Q.14
(i) Po210 decays with -particle to 82Pb206 with a half life of 138.4 day. If 1.0 g of 84Po210 is placed in a
84
sealed tube, how much helium will accumulate in 69.2 day? Express the answer in cm3 at 1atm & 273 K.
Also report the volume of He formed if 1 g of Po210 O2 is used.

(ii) A sample of U238 (half life = 4.5 × 109 yr) ore is found to contain 23.8 g of U238 and 20.6 g of Pb206.
Calculate the age of the ore.

Q.15 Ac227 has a half life of 22 year w.r.t radioactive decay. The decay follows two parallel paths, one leading
the Th227 and the other leading to Fr223. the percentage yields of these two daughters nucleides are 2%
and 98% respectively. What is the rate constant in yr–1, for each of the separate paths?

Radioactivity [15]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
EXERCISE - II

Q.1 In a nature decay chain series starts with 90Th232 and finally terminates at 82Pb208. A thorium ore sample
was found to contain 8 × 105 ml of helium at 1 atm & 273 K and 5 × 107 gm of Th232. Find the age
of ore sample assuming that source of He to be only due to decay of Th232. Also assume complete
retention of helium within the ore. (Halflife of Th232 = 1.39 × 1010Y)

Q.2 A radioactive decay counter is switched on at t = 0. A - active sample is present near the counter. The
counter registers the number of  - particles emitted by the sample. The counter registers
1 × 105  - particles at t = 36 s and 1.11 × 105  - particles at t = 108 s. Find T½ of this sample

Q.3 A small quantity of solution containing 24Na radionuclide (half life 15 hours) of activity
1.0 microcurie is injected into the blood of a person. A sample of the blood of volume 1 cm3 taken
after 5 hours shows an activity of 296 disintegrations per minute. Determine the total volume of blood in
the body of the person. Assume that the radioactive solution mixes uniformly in the blood of the person.
(1 Curie = 3.7 × 1010 disintegrations per second )

Q.4 A mixture of 239Pu and 240Pu has a specific activity of 6 ×109 dis/s/g. The half lives of the isotopes are
2.44 ×104 y and 6.08 ×103 y respectively. calculate the isotopic composition of this sample.

Q.5 Nuclei of a radioactive element A are being produced at a constant rate  . The element has a decay
constant  . At time t = 0, there are N0 nuclei of the element.
(a) Calculate the number N of nuclei of A at time t .
(b) If =2N0, calculate the number of nuclei of A after one halflife of A & also the limiting value of N as t.

Q.6 238 by successive radioactive decays changes to 82Pb206. A sample of uranium ore was analyzed
92U
and found to contain 1.0g of U238 and 0.1g of Pb206. Assuming that all the Pb206 had accumulated due
to decay of U238, find out the age of the ore. (Half life of U238 = 4.5 ×109 years).

Q.7 218
(t/12 = 3.05 min) decay to 82Pb214 (t1/2 = 2.68 min) by -emission, while Pb214 is a -emitter.
84Po
In an experiment starting with 1 gm atom of Pure Po218, how much time would be required for the
number of nuclei of 82Pb214 to reach maximum.

Q.8
(a) On analysis a sample of uranium ore was found to contain 0.277 g of 82Pb206 and 1.667 g of 92U238. The
half life period of U238 is 4.51 × 109 year. If all the lead were assumed to have come from decay of
92
U238, what is the age of earth?
(b) An ore of 92U238 is found to contain 92U238 and 82Pb206 in the weight ratio of 1 : 0.1. The half life period
of 92U238 is 4.5 × 109 year. Calculate the age of ore.

Q.9 an experiment requires minimum -activity produced at the rate of 346 -particles per minute. The half
life period of 42Mo99 which is a -emitter is 66.6 hr. Find the minimum amount of 42Mo99 required to
carry out the experiment in 6.909 hour.

Radioactivity [16]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
131
Q.10 A sample of 53 I , as iodine ion, was administered to a patient in a carrier consisting of 0.10 mg of stable
iodide ion. After 4.00 days, 67.7% of the initial radioactivity was detected in the thyroid gland of the
pat ient . What mass of t he stable io dide ion had migrated to the thyroid gland?
( t½ = 8 days.)

Radioactivity [17]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
EXERCISE III
27 29
Q.1 13 Al is a stable isotope. 13 Al is expected to disintegrated by
0
(A)  emission (B) 1  emission (C) Positron emission (D) Proton emission

Q.2 Loss of a – particle is equivalent to

(A) Increase of one proton only (B) Decrease of one neutron only
(C) Both (A) and (B) (D) None of these.

Q.3 Two radioactive material A1 and A2 have decay constants of 10 0 and 0. If initially they have same
1
number of nuclei, then after time 9 the ratio of number of their undecayed nuclei will be
0
1 1 1 e
(A) (B) 2 (C) 3 (D)
e e e 1
Q.4 The half-life of a radioactive isotope is three hours. If the initial mass of the isotope were 256 g, the mass
of it remaining undecayed after 18 hours would be
(A) 16.0 g (B) 4.0 g (C) 8.0 g (D) 12.0 g

Q.5 Consider the following nuclear reactions:

238
92 M XY N  2 42 He; XY N AB L  2
The number of neutrons in the element L is
(A) 142 (B) 144 (C) 140 (D) 146

Q.6 The half-life of a radioisotope is four hours. If the initial mass of the isotope was 200 g, the mass
remaining after 24 hours undecayed is
(A) 1.042 g (B) 2.084 g (C) 3.125 g (D) 4.167 g

Q.7 Helium nuclie combines to form an oxygen nucleus. The binding energy per nucleon of oxygen nucleus is
if m0 = 15.834 amu and mHe = 4.0026 amu
(A) 10.24 MeV (B) 0 MeV (C) 5.24 MeV (D) 4 MeV

Q.8 A radioactive element gets spilled over the floor of a room. Its half-life period is 30 days. If the initial
activity is ten times the permissible value, after how many days will it be safe to enter the room?
(A) 1000 days (B) 300 days (C) 10 days (D) 100 days

Q.9 Which of the following nuclear reactions will generate an isotope?

(A) neutron particle emission (B) position emission
(C) -particle emission (D) -particle emission

Q.10 Read the following :

(i) The halflife period of a radioactive element X is same as the meanlife time of another radioactive
element Y. Initially both of them have the same number of atoms. Then Y will decay at a faster rate than X.
(ii) The electron emitted in beta radiation originates from decay of a neutron in a nucleus
(iii) The half - life of 215At is 100 ms. The time taken for the radioactivity of a sample of 215At to decay to
1/16th of its initial value is 400 s.
(iv) The volume (V) and mass (m) of a nucleus are related as V  m.
(v) Given a sample of Radium-226 having half-life of 4 days. Find the probability, a nucleus disintegrates
within 2 half lives is 3/4
Select the correct code for above.
(A) TTTTT (B) TFTTF (C) FTFTF (D) FTTTF
Radioactivity [18]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
Q.11 The radioactive sources A and B of half lives of t hr and 2t hr respectively, initially contain the same
number of radioactive atoms. At the end of t hours, their rates of disintegration are in the ratio :
(A) 2 2 : 1 (B) 1 : 8 (C) 2:1 (D) ln 2 : 1
14
C
Q.12 The ratio of C14 to C12 in a living matter is measured to be = 1.3 × 10–12 at the present time.
C12
Activity of 12.0 gm carbon sample is 180 dpm. The half life of C14 is nearly _____ × 1012 sec.
[Given : NA = 6 × 1023]
(A) 0.18 (B) 1.8 (C) 0.384 (D) 648

Q.13 The analysis of a mineral of uranium reveals that ratio of mole of 206Pb and 238U in sample is 0.2. If
effective decay constant of process 238U  206Pb is  then age of rock is
1 5 1 5 1 4 1 6
(A) ln (B) ln   (C) ln (D) ln  
 4  1  1  5

Q.14 Which of the following processes represents a gamma - decay?

(A) AXZ +  AXZ – 1 + a + b (B) AXZ + 1n0 A– 3XZ –2 + c
A A
(C) XZ  XZ + f (D) AXZ + e–1 AXZ – 1 + g

Q.15 Select correct statement(s):

(A) The emission of gamma radiation involves transtition between energy levels within the nucleus.
(B) 42 He is formed due to emission of beta particle from tritium 13 H .
n
(C) When positron ( o1 e ) is emitted, ratio increases.
p
(D) In general, adsorption is exothermic process.

Q.16 Let Fpp, Fpn and Fnn denote the magnitudes of net force by a proton on a proton, by a proton on a
neutron and by a neutron on a neutron respectively. Neglect gravitational force. When the separation is
1 fm,
(A) Fpp > Fpn = Fnn (B) Fpp = Fpn = Fnn
(C) Fpp > Fpn > Fnn (D) Fpp < Fpn = Fnn

Q.17 The half life of Tc99 is 6.0 hr. The delivery of a sample of Tc99 from the reactor to the nuclear medicine lab
of a certain hospital takes 3.0 hr. What is the minimum amount of Tc99 that must be shipped in order for
the lab to receive 10.0 mg?
(A) 20.0 mg (B) 15.0 mg (C) 14.1 mg (D) 12.5 mg

Q.18 A sample contains 0.1 gram-atom of radioactive isotope A (t = 5 days). How many number of
Z X 1/2
atoms will decay during eleventh day? [NA = Avogadro's number]

  0.69311  0.69310   0.69311 0.69310 

 
(A) 0.1   e 5 e 5  (B) 0.1   e 5  e 5 
 
   

  0.69311  0.69310   0.69311 0.69310 

 5 5   5 e 5 N
(C) 0.1   e e
 NA (D) 0.1   e  A
   
Radioactivity [19]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
Q.19 The average (mean) life at a radio nuclide which decays by parallel path is
1
A  B; 1 = 1.8 × 10–2 sec–1

2A  2 C; 2 = 10–3 sec–1
(A) 52.63 sec (B) 500 sec (C) 50 sec (D) None

Q.20 Two radioactive nuclides A and B have half lives of 50 min and 10 min respectively. A fresh sample
contains the nuclides of B to be eight time that of A. How much time should elapse so that the number
of nuclides of A becomes double of B
(A) 30 (B) 40 (C) 50 (D) None

Q.21 A sample of 14 CO 2 was to be mixed with ordinary CO2 for a biological tracer experiment. In order that
10 cm3 of diluted gas should have 104 dis/min, what activity (in Ci) of radioactive carbon is needed to
prepare 60 L of diluted gas at STP. [1 Ci = 3.7 ×1010 dps]
(A) 270 Ci (B) 27 Ci (C) 2.7 Ci (D) 2700 Ci

Q.22 Wooden article and freshly cut tree show activity of 7.6 and 15.2 min –1 gm–1 of carbon
(t1/2 = 5760 years) respectively. The age of article in years, is
 15.2   7.6 
(A) 5760 (B) 5760 ×   (C) 5760 ×   (D) 5760 × (15.2 – 7.6)
 7.6   15.2 

Q.23 A radioactive sample had an initial activity of 56 dpm (disintegration per min). After 69.3 min it was
found to have an activity of 28 dpm. Find the number of atoms in a sample having an activity of 10 dpm.
(A) 693 (B) 1000 (C) 100 (D) 10,000

Q.24. The radioactivity of a sample is R1 at a time T1 and R2 at a time T2. If the half life of the specimen is T, the
number of atoms that have disintegrated in the time (T2  T1) is proportional to
(A) (R1T1  R2T2) (B) (R1  R2) (C) (R1  R2) / T (D)(R1 R2)T/0.693

Q.25 C14 is a beta active nucleus. A sample of C14H4 gas kept in a closed vessel shows increase in pressure
with time. This is due to
(A) the formation of N14H3 and H2
(B) the formation of B11H3 and H2
(C) the formation of C142H4 and H2
(D) the formation of C12H3, N14H2 and H2

Radioactivity [20]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
Comprehension
Nuclei of a radioactive element ‘A’ are being produced at a constant rate, . The element has a decay
constant, . At time, t = 0, there are N0 nuclei of the element.

Q.26 The number of nuclei of A at time ‘t’ is


(A) (1 – e–t) (B) N0· e–t


1 N 0 ·     t 
(C) [ – ( – N0)e–t] (D) 1  1   e 
     

Q.27 If  = 2N0, the number of nuclei of A after one half life of A becomes
(A) zero (B) 2N0 (C) 1.5 N0 (D) 0.5 N0

Q.28 If  = 4N0, the number of nuclei of A when A has reached steady state:
(A) zero (B) 4N0 (C) 2N0 (D) N0

Comprehension
Mass defect in the nuclear reactions may be expressed in terms of the atomic masses of the parent and
daughter neuclides in place of their nuclear masses.

Q.29 The mass defect of nuclear reaction: 4Be10  5B10 + e¯ is

(A) m = At. mass of 4Be10 – At. mass of 5B10
(B) m = At. mass of 4Be10 – At. mass of 5B10 – mass of one electron
(C) m = At. mass of 4Be10 – At. mass of 5B10 + mass of one electron
(D) m = At. mass of 4Be10 – At. mass of 5B10 – mass of two electrons

Q.30 The mass defect of the nuclear reaction: 5B8  4Be8+ e+ is

(A) m = At. mass of 5B8 – At. mass of 4Be8
(B) m = At. mass of 5B8 – At. mass of 4Be8 – mass of one electron
(C) m = At. mass of 5B8 – At. mass of 4Be8 + mass of one electron
(D) m = At. mass of 5B8 – At. mass of 4Be8 – mass of two electrons

Radioactivity [21]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
EXERCISE - IV
Q.1 The number of neutrons accompanying the formation of 54X139 and 38Sr94 from the absorption of slow
neutron by 92U235 followed by nuclear fision is [JEE 1999]
(A) 0 (B) 2 (C) 1 (D) 3

23 24
Q.2 11 Na
is the most stable isotope of Na. Find the process by which 11 Na can undergo radioactive decay:
(A) ¯ -emission (B) -emission (C) + -emission (D) K-electron capture
[JEE 2000]

64
Q.3 Cu (half-life = 12.8 hr) decays by – emission (38%), + emission (19%) and electron capture (43%).
Write the decay product and calculate partial half-lives for each of the decay processes. [JEE’2002]

Q.4 A radioactive sample emits n -particles in 2 sec. In next 2 sec it emits 0.75 n -particles, what is the
mean life of the sample? [JEE 2003]

Q.5 Fill in the blanks

235 1 137
(a) 92 U  0 52 A  97
n 40 B 
___________.
82
34 Se 
0
(b) 2 1 e + _____________. [JEE 2005]

Question No. 6 to 8 (3 questions)

Carbon 14 is used to determine the age of orgainc material. The procedure is based on the formation of
14C by neutron capture in the upper atmosphere.
14 1 14 1
7N + 0n  6C + 1H
14C is absorbed by living organisms during photosynthesis. The 14C content is constant in living organism

once the plant or animal dies, the uptake of carbon dioxide by it ceases and the level of 14C in the dead
being falls due to the decay which C14 undergoes.
14 14
6C  7N + –1e°
The half life period of 14C is 5770 years. The decay constant () can be calculated by using the following
0.693
formula  =
t1/ 2
The comparison of the – activity of the dead matter with that of carbon still in circulation enables
measurement of the period of the isolation of the material from the living cycle. The method however,
ceases to be accurate over periods longer than 30,000 years. The proportion of 14C to 12C in living
matter is 1 : 1012 [JEE 2006]

Q.6 Which of the following option is correct?

(A) In living organisms, circulation of 14C from atmosphere is high so the carbon content is constant in
organism
(B) Carbon dating can be used to find out the age of earth crust and rocks
(C) Radioactive absorption due to cosmic radiation is equal to the rate of radioactive decay, hence the
carbon content remains constant in living organism
(D) Carbon dating cannot be used to determine concentration of 14C in dead beings.

Q.7 What should be the age of fossil for meaningful determination of its age?
(A) 6 years (B) 6000 years
(C) 60000 years (D) it can be used to calculate any age

Radioactivity [22]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
Q.8 A nuclear explosion has taken place leading to increase in concentration of C14 in nearby areas. C14
concentration is C1 in nearby areas and C2 in areas far away. If the age of the fossil is determined to be
t1 and t2 at the places respectively, then
(A) The age of the fossil will increase at the place where explosion has taken place and
1 C1
t1– t2 = ln
 C2
(B) The age of the fossil will decrease at the place where explosion has taken place and
C
t1– t2 = 1 ln 1
 C2
(C) The age of fossil will be determined to be the same
t1 C1
(D) t  C
2 2
23
Q.9 A positron is emitted from 11 Na . The ratio of the atomic mass and atomic number of the resulting
nuclide is [JEE 2006]
(A) 22/10 (B) 22/11 (C) 23/10 (D) 23/12

23
Q.10 A positron is emitted by 11 Na . The ratio of the atomic mass and atomic number of the resulting nucleide
is : [JEE 2007]
(A) 22/10 (B) 22/11 (C) 23/11 (D) 23/12

Q.11 STATEMENT-1 : The plot of atomic number (y-axis) versus number of neutrons (x-axis) for
stable nuclei shows a curvature towards x-axis from the line of 45° slope
as the atomic number is increased.
and
STATEMENT-2 : Proton-proton electrostatic repulsions begin to overcome attractive forces
involving protons and neutrons in heavier nuclides. [JEE 2008]

(A) STATEMENT-1 is True, STATEMENT-2 is True ; STATEMENT-2 is a correct explanation for

STATEMENT-1
(B) STATEMENT-1 is True, STATEMENT-2 is True ; STATEMENT-2 is NOT a correct explanation
for STATEMENT-1
(C) STATEMENT-1 is True, STATEMENT-2 is False
(D) STATEMENT-1 is False, STATEMENT-2 is True

238 214
Q.12 The total number of  and particles emitted in the nuclear reaction 92 U 82 Pb is [JEE 2009]

Radioactivity [23]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
ANSWER KEY
EXERCISE - I

Q.1 beta emitter : 49Ca, 30Al, 94Kr, positron emitter : 195Hg, 8B, 150Ho
114
Q.2 49 In , odd number of nucleons

Q.3 (a) 11 H , (b) 10 n , (c) 63 Li , (d) 0 ,

1 e
(e) 0 ,
1 e
(f) p (proton)

Q.4  = 2.079 hr –1 Q.5 5.624 × 105 atoms Q.6 6.25 %

Q.7 2.67 × 105 dps Q.8 33.67 years
40 40
Q.9 (i) 19 K  18 Ar + +10 +  (ii) 2.8 × 109 years

Q.10 (i) tmeans = 14.43 s (ii) 40 seconds

Q.11 E = 14.25 MeV
Q.12 (a) No. of -particles = 8, No. of -particles = 6 ; (b) 82Pb206
Q.13 6.13 × 10–7 g Q.14 (i) 31.25 cm3, 27.104 cm3 (ii) 4.5 × 109 year
Q.15 6.30 × 10–4 yr–1, 3.087 × 10–2 yr–1

PROFICIENCY TEST

Fill in the blanks with appropriate items :

1. -rays 2. 8, 6 3. isodiaphers 4. 30
14 Si

5. isotones 6. 20 min. 7. Fusion , 24 8 D (Deuteron)

64 a b (a  b )
9 (a) 11 H (b) 28 Ni (c) 0
1 
(d) 10 n 10 = ;  = d  c
4 2
11 2.16 × 1012 dpm. 12 1.06 × 10–15 13 4.65 14 23.6 MeV

True or False Statements :

1. T 2. T 3. T 4. T 5. T 6. T

7. T 8. F 9. T 10. T 11. F 12. F

13. T 14. F 15. T 16. T

Radioactivity [24]
 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY BY PRINCE SIR
EXERCISE - II

Q.1 t = 4.89 × 109 years Q.2 ( T1 / 2 = 10.8 sec) Q.3 6 litre

1 3N0
Q.4 239
Pu = 45.1%, 240Pu = 54.9% Q.5 (a) N = [ (1  et )+  N0 et] (b) , 2 N0
 2

Q.6 t = 7.1 × 108 years Q.7 4.125 min Q.8 (a) 1.143 × 109 year, (b) 7.097 × 108 year

Q.9 3.56 × 10–16 g Q.10 0.0958 mg

EXERCISE III

Q.1 B Q.2 C Q.3 A Q.4 B Q.5 B Q.6 C Q.7 A

Q.8 D Q.9 A Q.10 A Q.11 C Q.12 A Q.13 D Q.14 C

Q.15 C, D Q.16 D Q.17 C Q.18 C Q.19 C Q.20 C Q.21 B

Q.22 A Q.23 B Q.24. D Q.25 A Q.26 C Q.27 C Q.28 B

Q.29 A Q.30 D
EXERCISE - IV

Q.1 D Q.2 A

64 64
Q.3 30 Zn , 28 Ni , (t1/2)1 = 33.68 hr, (t1/2)2 = 67.36 hr, (t1/2)3 = 29.76 hr

2
Q.4 1.75n = N0(1 – e–4), 6.95 sec, Q.5 (a) 2 10 n , (b) 82
36Kr
 4
ln  
 3

Q.6 C Q.7 B Q.8 A Q.9 C

Q.10 C Q.11 A Q.12 8

Radioactivity [25]