7.

1 - Radioactivity
Todays lesson: Homework:
• define radioactivity
• introduce N-Z stability
Starter:
• describe how we can detect
What can you remember about alpha
radiation beta gamma?
• explain properties of alpha
beta and gamma
• complete alpha beta decay
equations

Big Question
• define radioactivity

Year: 1896
Radioactivity
Who: Antoine Henri Becquerel
What did he find: Becquerel had some photographic
plates which had been wrapped in light proof paper
and kept in a drawer. He found that they had been
fogged.
He came to the conclusion that this must have been
caused by some nearby uranium salts.

It was an accidental discovery.

It was confirmed Marie Curie, who showed the

activity of the uranium salts depended on the
amount of uranium they contained
• define radioactivity
Describe the emission and absorption spectrum of common gases.

Radioactivity
Radioactivity is the random spontaneous emission of radiation from the nucleus of an
unstable nuclei to become more stable

Why is is random and spontaneous?

How do we detect it?

Detecting radiation: early on scientist continued to used photographic film. But it was
discovered that fluorescent materials (zinc sulphide). Show tiny flashes of light (scintillations)
when radiation fell upon them. This meant now that scientists could calculate the amount of
radioactivity it became quantitative.

Because we could now count the released radiation, it was found they were irregular and not
continuous hence random.
We can measure
radiation using a
GM tube.
• describe
Describehow
the we can detect
emission andradiation
absorption spectrum of common gases.

cloud chambers can also be used to detect radiation - as well as the geiger muller tube
• describe how we can detect radiation

The track patterns formed in the cloud chamber

can be used to differentiate between alpha, beta and
gamma radiations.

Alpha radiation produces thick, straight tracks. The

tracks are thick because of their high ionizing ability.
Straight tracks are due to their large mass, making
alpha particle difficult to deflect (high inertial).

Beta radiation produces thin; twisted tracks. The

thin twisted tracks are due to the weak ionizing
ability of the beta particle. Twisted tracks are due to
their small mass, making beta particles easier to
deflect.

Gamma radiation produces short, thin and

scattered tracks. This is due to the extremely weak
ionizing ability of gamma rays.
•• explain
Recapproperties of alpha
alpha beta beta and gamma
gamma
• complete alpha beta decay equations

Alpha
Alpha beta gamma
Beta Gamma

Nature: what is it? Fill in the table, if you

Picture can’t remember:
Chem symbol
• Ask someone
• Look it up
Relative mass
• Ask me
Relative charge

Material that stops it

Range in air

Ionising ability

Danger to outside body

Danger to inside the

body
• describe
describe
Describehow
how
thewe
wecan
candetect
detect
emission andradiation
radiation
absorption spectrum of common gases.

Explain the relationship between the ionising and penetrating power

The penetrating power of nuclear radiation depends upon the ionising
power of the radiation.

The radiation continues to penetrate matter until it has lost all of its
energy.

The further it can penetrate into the substance the more spread out
the ionization it causes will be, so the more localised the ionization
the less penetrating power it will possess.
 7.1 - alpha beta and gamma decay
Homework:
Today’s lesson:
• discuss what are neutrinos
Starter:
• describe how gamma rays
What can you remember about alpha
are emitted through decay
beta gamma?
and calculate the frequency
• state the properties of the
four fundamental forces

Big Question
• introduce N-Z stability

N-Z Stability Curve

N: number of neutrons
Some isotopes are stable others
are unstable (these are
radioisotope) We can determine
whether a radioisotope is likely
to decay - and what type of
decay is likely to occur - by
looking at its position on an N-Z
curve graph. Z: number of protons
• define radioactivity
introduce
introduce N-Z
N-Zstability
stability

• if a radioisotope lies to the left of the

stability line, it has too many neutrons and
is likely to undergo β- decay (electrons)

• if a radioisotope lies to the right of the

stability line, it has too many protons and is
likely to undergo β+ decay (positrons)

• If particles have high numbers of protons

(usually more than 82), they are likely to
undergo alpha decay.
• introduce N-Z
introduce N-Zstability
stability
• explain properties
introduce of alpha beta and gamma
N-Z stability
• complete alpha beta decay equations

Alpha (α) decay

When an alpha particle is
emitted from a nucleus, so it
loses 2p+2n

This means the atomic mass

number decreases by 4 and the
atomic number decreases by
2.
You can check these are
A new element is formed that is right by seeing if they are
two places lower in the Periodic balanced!!
Table than the original element.
• explain properties
introduce
Complete N-Z of equations
alpha beta and
stability
decay forgamma
alpha beta and gamma.
• complete alpha beta decay equations
• explain properties
introduce of alpha beta and gamma
N-Z stability
• complete alpha beta decay equations

235 210
92 82

234 212
90 84

228 216
88 84

222 224
86 88

216 228
84 90

218 235
84 92
• explain properties
introduce
Complete N-Z of equations
alpha beta and
stability
decay forgamma
alpha beta and gamma.
• complete alpha beta decay equations

But there are

two types of
beta decay!

Beta minus (β-) decay

Beta plus (β+) decay

• explain properties
introduce
Complete N-Z of equations
alpha beta and
stability
decay forgamma
alpha beta and gamma.
• complete alpha beta decay equations

Beta minus (β-) decay

In Beta (β-) decay, a neutron changes
into a proton plus an electron and anti
electron neutrino

The proton stays in the nucleus and the

electron leaves the atom with high energy,
and we call it a beta particle.

This means the atomic mass number

remains unchanged and the atomic
number increases by 1.
• explain properties
introduce
Complete N-Z of equations
alpha beta and
stability
decay forgamma
alpha beta and gamma.
• complete alpha beta decay equations

A neutron changes into a proton! So it has same nucleon

number and but different proton number
• explain properties
introduce
Complete N-Z of equations
alpha beta and
stability
decay forgamma
alpha beta and gamma.
• complete alpha beta decay equations

22 14
12 6
40
20 210
83
234
92 206
81
230
91
60
214 27
83
90
38
A neutron changes into a proton! So it has same nucleon
number and but different proton number
• explain
Recap
Completeproperties
introduce N-Z
alpha of equations
alpha
stability
decaybeta beta and
gamma forgamma
alpha beta and gamma.
• complete alpha beta decay equations

Beta plus (β+) decay

β+ decay a proton is converted into a
neutron and a positive beta particle of β+
plus an electron neutrino.

This is called a positron and has the same

mass as an electron but the opposite
charge (positive). (its an anti electron
/opposite electron)

The mass number (A) remains the same

but the atomic number (Z) reduces by one.
• explain properties
introduce
Complete N-Z of equations
alpha beta and
stability
decay forgamma
alpha beta and gamma.
• complete alpha beta decay equations

Gamma (γ) decay

When some radioactive materials decay
they release gamma rays instead of
particles. This means the nucleus is
losing energy and becomes more stable

This means the atomic mass number and

atomic number do not change.
 explain
Recapproperties
• introduce of alpha
N-Z stability
alpha beta beta and gamma
gamma
• complete alpha beta decay equations

Nuclear decay equations

Complete the questions on nuclear decay, we
haven’t learnt fission and fusion yet but they should
be ok to work out.

Ask for help if you are stuck.

• explain properties of alpha beta and gamma
• basic
complete alpha beta decay equations
video
Video on
neutrinos
• describe how gamma
nuclear decay raysemission
- gamma are emitted through decay and calculate the frequency

alpha beta and gamma decay

Emission of an α or β particle is often
accompanied by emission of a γ ray.
This
may be almost instantaneous or delayed
by a certain time. After the initial α or β
decay, the nucleus is left in an excited
state. The nucleus releases this energy
in the form of a γ ray photon.
• describe
describe
nuclear how
howgamma
decaygammarays
rays
- gamma are
are
emitted
emitted
emission through
through
decay
decay
and and
calculate
calculate
the frequency
the frequency

alpha and gamma decay

Alpha particles when they are emitted from the nucleus are emitted at specific
energies. This is due to the conservation of momentum.
This means the alpha particle has a kinetic energy that it is being ejected with.

Example: Radium
● All alphas should be emitted with 4.84 MeV
● Some isotopes emit 2 alphas: which can differ in energy, e.g one with 4.84 MeV
and one with 4.74MeV
● The lower energy alpha particle being emitted leaves the nuclei in an
unstable excited state which has 0.10MeV “too much” energy.
● This is emitted as a gamma ray photon.

This gives rise to fixed discrete energy levels.

• describe
describe
nuclear how
howgamma
decaygammarays
rays
- gamma are
are
emitted
emitted
emission through
through
decay
decay
and and
calculate
calculate
the frequency
the frequency

Beta Decay
NOTE: Beta will not do this as it has a range of energies that is emitted. This was puzzling to
scientists, as if one particle was emitted if couldnt have a range of energies.
This was explained by another particle being emitted - this was the neutrino
• describe
describe
nuclear how
howgamma
decaygammarays
rays
- gamma are
are
emitted
emitted
emission through
through
decay
decay
and and
calculate
calculate
the frequency
the frequency

alpha and gamma decay

In the alpha decay of 239Pu to 235U, the plutonium

nucleus with an energy of 51.57 MeV can decay into
Uranium at 3 different energy levels
• describe
describe
nuclear how
howgamma
decaygammarays
rays
- gamma are
are
emitted
emitted
emission through
through
decay
decay
and and
calculate
calculate
the frequency
the frequency

alpha and gamma decay

If the 239Pu (51.57 MeV) decays to the ground state of 235

U (0 MeV), an alpha
particle of energy 51.57 MeV is emitted.
• describe
describe
nuclear how
howgamma
decaygammarays
rays
- gamma are
are
emitted
emitted
emission through
through
decay
decay
and and
calculate
calculate
the frequency
the frequency

alpha and gamma decay

If the 239Pu (51.57 MeV) decays to the 2nd excited state of 235U (0.051 MeV), an
alpha particle of energy 51.57-0.051 = 51.52 MeV is emitted. The uranium nucleus
is now in an excited state so can decay further by gamma emission to the ground
state.
• describe
describe
nuclear how
howgamma
decaygammarays
rays
- gamma are
are
emitted
emitted
emission through
through
decay
decay
and and
calculate
calculate
the frequency
the frequency

alpha and gamma decay

In fact the nucleus could decay first to the 0.013 level, and then the ground state,
thus emitting two gamma photons.
Don’t forget that this can mean we may have to calculate the gamma ray
frequency and wavelength using E=hf
• describe
describe how
howgamma
Recap alpha gamma rays
rays
beta gamma are
are
emitted
emitted
through
through
decay
decay
and and
calculate
calculate
the frequency
the frequency

Deflection of radiation
• Alpha is deflected to the
negative plate as it is
positively charged

• Beta is deflected towards the

positive plate as it is
negatively charged

• Gamma has no deflection as

it has no charge.

• Alpha is deflected the less

than beta as it has more
mass.
• describe
describe how
howgamma
Recap alpha gamma rays
rays
beta gamma are
are
emitted
emitted
through
through
decay
decay
and and
calculate
calculate
the frequency
the frequency

Deflection of radiation
• Alpha and beta are
also deflected in
magnetic fields (so
long as their motion is
perpendicular to the
field)

• Gamma is again NOT

deflected as it has no
charge.
 7.1 and 12.2 Radioactive decay - half life
Todays lesson: Homework:
• discuss what are
neutrinos
• describe how gamma Starter:
What is radioactivity
rays are emitted through
decay and calculate the
frequency
• state the properties of the
four fundamental forces

Big Question
• Use the term half-life in simple calculations, including the use of information in tables or decay

What is half life?

curves.

Key definition:
the time for the activity of a radioactive sample to decrease to
half its initial activity

• The nuclei of radioactive atoms are unstable. They breakdown and

change into a completely different type of atom. This is called radioactive
decay. We already know this!
• It is not possible to predict when an individual atom might decay. As it
is spontaneous and random!
• But it is possible to measure how long it takes for half of the nuclei of a
piece of radioactive material to decay. This is called the half-life of the
radioactive isotope.
• Use the
the term
termhalf-life
half-lifeininsimple
simple calculations,
calculations, including
including theof
the use use of information
information in or
in tables tables orcurves.
decay decay

What is half life?

curves.

The rate of decay

(activity) is
measured in
Becquerels.

One becquerel is
one particle
emitted per
second from a
sample.
• Use the
the term
termhalf-life
half-lifeininsimple
simple calculations,
calculations, including
including theof
the use use of information
information in or
in tables tables orcurves.
decay decay
curves.

Different ½ - lives
• Different isotopes have different half-lives
• The ½-life could be a few milliseconds or 5000 million years!

Number of
nuclei
undecayed

time

half-life (t½)
• Use the
the term
termhalf-life
half-lifeininsimple
simple calculations,
calculations, including
including theof
the use use of information
information in or
in tables tables orcurves.
decay decay

radioactive decay is random and spontaneous

curves.

random: we don't know when it will decay we

don’t know which of the atoms will decay

spontaneous: there isn’t a cause (we don’t heat

it, add pressure - nothing causes the decay)
• Use the
the term
termhalf-life
half-lifeininsimple
simple calculations,
calculations, including
including theof
the use use of information
information in or
in tables tables orcurves.
decay decay

simulating radioactive decay

curves.

M&M challenge
Start with the M&M’s, shake them all and take out the ones
that land on m side up (these have decayed), keep going
until none left. Plot roll number against number remaining.

Dice challenge.
Start with 100 dice, roll them all and take out the ones that
land on 6 (these have decayed), keep going until none left.
Plot roll number against number remaining.

Draw a graph for each.

What is the shape?
What is the “half life” for each
Why is this good model to show it is random and
spontaneous?
• Use the
the term
termhalf-life
half-lifeininsimple
simple calculations,
calculations, including
including theof
the use use of information
information in or
in tables tables orcurves.
decay decay

radioactive decay
curves.

The rate of decay (number of nuclei that will decay per second) is proportional to the number of undecayed nuclei

dN = -λN
dt
λ = decay constant = the likelihood that an individual particle will decay in a second

what does
the negative
As t increases, no.of active nuclei
sign mean decreases
• Use the term half-life in simple calculations, including the use of information in tables or decay
curves.

The rate of decay is proportional to the amount of

(radioactive) material remaining;

The number of undecayed nuclei at time t is given by

N=N0e−λt where N0 is the number of undecayed nuclei
at time t=0 and λis the decay constant;
• Use the
the term
termhalf-life
half-lifeininsimple
simple
calculations,
calculations,
including
including
the use
theof
use
information
of information
in tables
in or
tables
decay
orcurves.
decay
curves.

radioactive decay
Each unstable nucleus has a certain probability that it
will decay within a given time
● the more undecayed nuclei there are the
more in total are likely to decay
● therefore the greater rate of decay

ΔN = - λN
Δt

SI unit of λ = s-1

The radioactive decay constant λ (or decay

probability constant) is defined as the probability of a
given nucleus decaying in one second.
• Use the
the term
termhalf-life
half-lifeininsimple
simple
calculations,
calculations,
including
including
the use
theof
use
information
of information
in tables
in or
tables
decay
orcurves.
decay
curves.

radioactive decay
If the number of nuclei present in
a sample at t = 0 is N0, the
number N still present at time t
later is given by

N = Noe-λt

Where λ is the decay constant

(the probability that a nucleus
will decay in unit time)
• Use the
the term
termhalf-life
half-lifeininsimple
simple
calculations,
calculations,
including
including
the use
theof
use
information
of information
in tables
in or
tables
decay
orcurves.
decay
curves.

activity
A = ΔN = λN = λNoe-λt
Δt
Activity is the total number of particles emitted by a sample per second.
• Use the
the term
termhalf-life
half-lifeininsimple
simple
calculations,
calculations,
including
including
the use
theof
use
information
of information
in tables
in or
tables
decay
orcurves.
decay
curves.

Measuring half life

For short
half-lives, the half
life can usually be
measured directly.
• Use the
the term
termhalf-life
half-lifeininsimple
simple
calculations,
calculations,
including
including
the use
theof
use
information
of information
in tables
in or
tables
decay
orcurves.
decay
curves.

half life - deriving equation

After one half-life, the number of original nuclei present is equal to N 0/2. Putting this into the radioactive
decay law;

N0/2 = N0e(-λt½) where t½ is the half-life

N0/2 = N0e(-λt½)

N = No e-λt Let t = t1/2 => N = ½ No

½ No = No e(-λ t1/2) ln ½ = -λ t1/2

t1/2 = ln 2/λ

This is the relationship between the decay constant and the half-life.
• Use the
the term
termhalf-life
half-lifeininsimple
simple calculations,
calculations, including
including theof
the use use of information
information in or
in tables tables orcurves.
decay decay

Measuring half life

curves.

For longer half lifes, values of activity can be measured and the
decay law can be used to calculate λ and thus t½.

Measure the activity A and chemically find the number of atoms of the
isotope.
Use A = λN and then λt½ = ln2

so t½ = ln2/λ
• Use the term half-life in simple calculations, including the use of information in tables or decay
curves.

Measuring Half Life - IB answer

How do you measure longer half lives?

• measurement of mass of sample / determination of

molar mass;
• determination of number of nuclei N;
• measurement of activity A;
• determination of decay constant from λ=A/ N
• half-life from T1/2=ln2/λ.
• Use the
the term
termhalf-life
half-lifeininsimple
simple
calculations,
calculations,
including
including
the use
theof
use
information
of information
in tables
in or
tables
decay
orcurves.
decay
curves.

Measuring half life

• Use the
the term
termhalf-life
half-lifeininsimple
simple
calculations,
calculations,
including
including
the use
theof
use
information
of information
in tables
in or
tables
decay
orcurves.
decay
curves.

tasks
● Past paper questions booklet