Nuclear Chemistry and Radioactivity

Single bond

 A shared electron pair (A:B), is denoted AB;

Double bond

 two shared electron pairs (A::B), is denoted AB

Triple bond

 three shared pairs of electrons (A:::B), is denoted AB.

Lone pair

 is an unshared pair of valence electrons on an atom (A:)

Octet rule

 Each atom shares electrons with neighboring atoms to achieve a total of eight valence electrons
(an ‘octet’).

Valence bond theory (VB theory)

 This theory of bonding was the first quantum mechanical theory of bonding to be developed.

Alpha particles

 Are helium nuclei. Each contains two protons and two neutrons; each has an atomic number of
2 and a charge of 12.

Beta particles

 are electrons. Each has a charge of 21.

Gamma rays

 are high-energy electromagnetic radiation. They have no mass or charge.

Wavelength

 (Λ, Greek letter lambda), which is the distance from one wave crest to the next. Λ = C/V

Frequency

 (v, Greek letter nu) of a radiation is the number of crests that pass a given point in one second.
Photons

 The smallest units of electromagnetic radiation come in packets

UV

 stands for ultraviolet

IR

 stands for infrared

Radioactive

 Materials that emit radiation (alpha, beta, or gamma)

Nuclear reaction

 A nucleus will undergo this to make the ratio more favorable and the nucleus more stable.

Transmutation

 the changing of one element into another

Half-life (t ½)

 time it takes for one-half of any sample of radioactive material to decay

Ionizing radiation

 Characterized by two physical measurements:

intensity and the energy of each particle or photon emitted.

Intensity (energy flux)

 The number of particles or photons emerging per unit time

Scintillation counters

 Have a material called a phosphor that emits a unit of light for each alpha or beta particle or
gamma ray that strikes it.

Geiger-Müller counter and the proportional counter

 contain a gas such as helium or argon. When a radioactive nucleus emits alpha or beta particles
or gamma rays, these radiations ionize the gas, and the instrument registers this fact by
indicating that an electric current has passed between two electrodes.
Curie (Ci)

 A common unit of radiation intensity, named in honor of Marie Curie -is defined as 3.7 x 10^10
disintegrations per second (dps).

Marie Curie

 whose lifelong work with radioactive materials greatly helped our understanding of nuclear
phenomena.

Roentgens

 measure the energy delivered by a radiation source and are, therefore, a measure of exposure
to a particular form of radiation.

Rad

 which stands for radiation absorbed dose, is a measure of the radiation absorbed from a
radiation source.

Rem

 which stands for roentgen equivalent for man, is a measure of the effect of the
radiation when a person absorbs 1 roentgen.

Medical imaging

 The most widely used aspect of nuclear medicine. The goal of this is to create a picture of a
target tissue.

Radiation therapy

 The selective destruction of pathological cells and tissues.

Fusion

 How the sun makes its energy.

Henri Becquerel

 Discovered radioactivity in 1896.

Gamma emission

no transmutation takes place; only the energy of the nucleus is lowered.

Electron capture

 The new element has the same mass number but an atomic number one unit smaller.

Nuclear medicine

 The use of radio nuclei for diagnostic imaging and therapy.

Nuclear fusion

 The combining (fusing) of two lighter nuclei to form a heavier nucleus.

Nuclear fission

 The splitting of a heavier nucleus into two or more smaller nuclei.