UNIT II.

NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
Learning Objectives
At the end of this chapter, the student will be able to,
• Evaluate and predict modes of decomposition and stability of isotopes
• Identify nuclear reactions as examples of fission and fusion.

Lesson Proper
Nuclear Processes
In nuclear chemistry, there are two types of processes that describe the nature
of nuclear reaction the nuclide undergoes. Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion.
Combining two light nuclei to form a heavier, more stable nucleus. This process
is called fusion.
Splitting a heavy nucleus into two nuclei with smaller mass numbers. This
process is called fission.
These processes involve very high level of energy because a fundamental
energy (strong nuclear force) was the energy present in holding the nucleus together
and that fundamental energy was being utilized in both processes.
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear fission is a process wherein a larger nuclide splits into lighter ones. An
example of nuclear fission is the splitting of uranium - 235:

This process 3.5 x1011 J of energy per event, which translates to 2.1x10 13 J per
mole of U-235. Compare this figure with that for the combustion of methane, which
releases only 8.0x105 J of energy per mole. The fission of U-235 produces about 26
million times more energy than the combustion of methane. Imagine how much energy
can be produced in nuclear fission reactions which is way more efficient than regular
fuels. That’s why nuclear power plants harness that energy from nuclear fission to
produce electricity efficiently.
In reality, nuclear fission may happen in chain reactions. That is when a
reactant nuclide happens to undergo a fission process, the product nuclide may undergo
another fission process if the product nuclide met the criteria for nuclear reactions to
occur. This chain reaction process produces tremendous amount of energy as a result.

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 An example of nuclear fission chain reaction

Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Fusion is a nuclear reaction in which lighter nuclide combines to
produce bulkier or larger nuclide. Large quantities of energy are also produced in this
process. In fact, stars produce their energy through nuclear fusion.
Our sun, which presently consists of 73% hydrogen, 26% helium, and 1% other
elements, gives off vast quantities of energy from the fusion of protons to form helium:

Other example of nuclear fusion and fission

Fission Reaction of U-235 Fusion Reaction of Hydrogen isotopes

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Exercise
Direction: Determine which type of nuclear process has happened.
_________1. Technetium-99 was formed by removing an electron from a
molybdenum-99.

_________2. Iodine-131 undergoes simultaneous alpha decay emission and becomes a

smaller nuclide.

_________3. Several hydrogen nuclides aggregated and form Helium that results in a
production of photon.

_________4. Californium – 254 was bombarded with neutron and releases tremendous
amount of energy.

_________5. Two oxygen atom forms a single radioactive sulfur nuclide.

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Assessing Learning
Name:_______________________________ Score:_________
Course/Year/Section:___________________ Date:__________

Activity 2
Half – Life of the Paper
Procedure:
1. Take the Day of the Month on which you were born and multiply that number by
2,000 (x2000). For example, if you were born on the 23rd day of a month, you would
multiply 23 x 2000 and your answer would be 46,000.
2. Calculate your number and fill it into the box labeled Beginning Amount in Table
1. This number represents the initial number of Radioactive Atoms in your sheet of
paper.
3. Set a countdown time for two minutes. After every 2-minute mark,” divide your
number of radioactive atoms by 2 (in half) and write the new number in the box labeled
1st Half-Life in Table 1.
4. Then, tear the provided sheet of paper in half. Place the top half of paper onto your
desk in front of you. These atoms are now stable and are no longer radioactive.
5. Repeat Steps 1-4 until after the 7th half-life.

Table 1

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Answer the following questions. Write your answer on a clean short bond paper.
For online students, write your answer on a clean bond paper and take a picture of
it then submit it to your respective laboratory instructor.
1. Define the term half-life.
2. What does it mean when we say an atom has “decayed”?
3. Based on the numbers in Table 1, approximately what percentage of the atoms decay
in each half-life?
4. List two things that stayed the same during this activity and list two things that are
different during this activity.
5. Do the number of atoms you start with affect the outcome? Explain.
6. How do scientists use radioactive decay to date fossils and artifacts? (Please provide
a reference citation.)
7. Give an example of ways how people utilize nuclear chemistry for technological
development.
8. By reflecting on this lesson, how important is nuclear chemistry to us?

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References:
• Brown, T. L. (2018). Chemistry: The central science
• Petrucci, R. H. (2007). General chemistry: Principles and modern applications.
Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
• Zumdahl, S. S., & Zumdahl, S. A. (2010). Chemistry. 8 th Ed. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin

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