Radioactivity

Learning Objectives

Discuss the different types of radioactive decays.

Differentiate nuclear fusion and fission.

- Nobel laureate
- first person to discover
evidence of radioactivity
(nuclear reactions)
Particle Symbol
Alpha
particle
4
2 He or 
4
2
▪ involves the spontaneous emission
of particles or ionizing radiation by
unstable nuclei.
Electron
0
−1 e or b
0
−1
• Unstable nuclei
b
0
0
Positron +1 e or +1 • radioactive
• referred to as radionuclides
Proton
1
1 H or 1
1 p • tends to undergo radioactive
decay into a more stable
1 different nuclide.
Neutron 0 n
ALPHA EMISSION
▪ Emission of an α–particle (a helium nucleus)
no. of n: 146 144
no. of p: 92 90

BETA EMISSION
▪ Emission of a β–particle (a high-speed electron)
no. of n: 74 74
no. of p: 53 54

▪ can be thought of as: 10n → 11p + 0 e

-1
POSITRON EMISSION
▪ Emission of a positron (a particle that has the
same mass as an electron but positive charge)
no. of n: 11 11
no. of p: 6 5
▪ Can be thought of as: 11p→10n + 0+1e

ELECTRON CAPTURE
▪ Addition of an electron to a proton in the nucleus
▪ As a result, a proton is transformed into a
neutron
GAMMA EMISSION
▪ Emission of a γ–ray (high energy radiation)
▪ Almost always accompanies the loss of a
nuclear particle

BALANCING NUCLEAR REACTIONS…

The total mass number in the reactant side must be
equal to the total mass number in the product side
The total atomic number in the reactant side must be
equal to the total atomic number in the product side
▪ unstable nucleus transformed into
a more stable one with lower
energy

▪ excess energy
→ escapes in the form of radiation
• Protons repel each other.
• Neutrons play a key role stabilizing the nucleus
• Therefore, the ratio of neutrons to protons is an important factor.
NUCLEAR FISSION
▪ splitting of a nucleus into smaller parts
▪ releases large amount of energy
▪ induced by bombarding a nuclide w/ n, e or etc.
NUCLEAR FUSION
▪ Reactions in which two or more elements fuse together to form one larger
element