Radioactivity

Lesson 13

Understand the concepts of nuclear fission, half life, radioactive

decay, and radioactivity.

BMAT Specification

• Word equations can be turned into balanced chemical equations using the formulae of
compounds and the symbols of elements; state symbols for each species in a chemical
reaction can be added to a fully balanced chemical equation (s, l, g, aq)

• How to write balanced ionic equations either from a balanced chemical equation or to
represent the processes, for example in electrolysis and redox

Medic Mind Tips and Theory

There have been 11 questions on Radioactivity since 2009.

There have been:

• 2 questions on nuclear fission
• 2 questions on half life and count rate
• 5 questions on radioactive decay and impact on atomic or mass number
• 2 questions on the properties of alpha, beta, gamma rays.

Atomic Structure

In the Chemistry section of this BMAT Book we consider atomic structure in more detail. To
re-cap:

• The protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus

• The electrons have negligible mass and circle in shells around the main nucleus
• Mass number = protons + neutrons
• Atomic number = protons
• Number of protons equals number of electrons for a neutral atom.
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Lesson 13

Isotopes

Isotopes are different forms of the same element, with varying number of neutrons.

• Certain isotopes are unstable and can therefore undergo radioactive decay. This is a
random process.

• During radioactive decay, the isotope gives out ionising radiation in the form of either
alpha, beta or gamma radiation.
• The isotope can lose protons in this process, so the element may change altogether.
Remember, it is the number of protons which defines what an element is.

Alpha, Beta and Gamma Rays

Alpha particles are effectively helium nuclei, because they have 2 protons and 2 neutrons.

Beta particles are simply electrons.

A decaying isotope will release either an alpha or beta particle. After this, it may release
extra energy in the form of a gamma ray.

Alpha Beta Gamma

Also known as… Helium nuclei Electrons EM Waves

Protons, Neutrons, 2 protons, 2 neutrons 1 electron -

Electrons

Mass Number 4 0 0

Charge +2 -1 0

Penetration Alpha particles are very Beta particles are small Gamma rays are vey
heavy, and do not as they are electrons, so penetrating.
penetrate very far. They move fast. They
only travel a few penetrate less than
centimetres in air. gamma waves, but more
than alpha waves. Travel
20cm or so in air.

Blocked by Paper Thin Aluminium Thick Lead

Ionising Power Due to their size and Are moderately They are weakly
charge, alpha particles ionising, less so than ionising.
are highly ionising. alpha particles.
They can knock into
other particles, causing
release of electrons from
the particle hit.
 Radioactivity
Lesson 13

Used • Smoke detectors • Medical tracers • Medical tracers

• Thickness control in • Radiotherapy to treat
production cancer
• Sterilisation of food

When the isotope gives out alpha rays, it can change from one element to another. This is
because there is a loss of protons. When beta or gamma rays are lost, there is no change
in element.

Understanding Half Life

The process of radioactive decay is random. In one isotope, there are many atoms, and
they can decay at different times.

The half life of a radioactive isotope is the average time taken for half of its atoms to
decay.

We can look at the count rate of a radioactive sample to

measure its radioactive activity. When the half life is
reached, the count rate has halved.

In this graph, we can find the half life by looking at the

stage at which the count rate halves to 40. The time is 2
hours - the half life. The half life is consistent, so the
count rate halves again to 20 after another 2 hours.

A short half life means that a sample decays very quickly, and activity falls.

Calculations on Half Life

You can carry out calculations on radioactive isotopes. These are commonly tested in the
BMAT. Questions can ask you to:

• Work out half life using count rates

• Work out count rates using half life
• Compare two radioactive samples

You might have to take into account background radiation.

 Radioactivity
Lesson 13

Worked Example

The count rate of a sample X is 460 counts per minute. After 15 hours the count rate is 145
counts per minute. If background radiation is 100 counts per minute, what is the half life?

First of all, minus 100 from each count reading, to account for background radiation.
Therefore the initial count rate was 360 and the final after 15 hours was 45.

Initial - 360
1st half life - 180
2nd half life - 90
3rd half life - 45

So the sample has halved three times in 15 hours. Therefore the half life is 5 hours.

Nuclear Fission

Nuclear fission means the splitting of a nucleus. The splitting gives off a huge amount of
energy, which is valuable in energy generation.

Generating electricity

Nuclear fission is a process used in power stations to generate vast amounts of heat
energy. This heat energy is used to heat water, forming steam. The steam is then
used to power a steam turbine to generate electricity

Chain reactions

Uranium-235 nuclei are used in the reactor. Lots of slow moving neutrons are
present too.

When a uranium nucleus absorbs a slow moving neutron, it becomes

unstable. It therefore decays by splitting up, which causes a chain reaction.

When the uranium

splits, it gives off more
neutrons, which can
interact with other uranium
nuclei to keep the chain
reaction going.
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Lesson 13

In the equation above, U-235 has split into Ba and Kr, plus the 3 neutrons.

Sometimes U-235 is not used, an alternative element is used.

Practice Questions

Question 1

Which of the following statements about nuclear fission are correct?

1. Nuclear fission generates electricity indirectly

2. Uranium-235 absorbs a proton to begin fission
3. The chain reaction continues because neutrons released by each fission reaction go
on to cause further fission reactions
4. Uranium-235 is always used in fission reactors.
5. Beta radiation is given off during nuclear fission

A. 1 and 3
B. 2 and 3
C. 1 and 4
D. 4 and 5
E. 2, 3 and 5
F. 1, 2 and 3
G. 1, 3 and 4
H. 1, 4 and 5

Question 2

A radioactive source gives off

alpha, beta and gamma rays.
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Lesson 13

Which of the following statements are correct?

1. The radiation which passes X but not Y is a helium nuclei

2. The radiation which passes X and Y is used to sterilise food
3. The radiation which does not pass X is highly ionising
4. Any radiation which does not pass Y and X has a mass number of 0.

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. 3 only
D. 2 and 3
E. 1 and 3
F. 1, 2 and 3
G. 2, 3 and 4
H. 1, 3 and 4
I. All of them

Question 3

An isotope gives off four alpha particles, seven beta particles and gamma radiation.

What is the change in mass number, atomic number and charge?

Atomic Number Mass Number Charge

A -8 -16 -1

B +8 -8 -8

C +4 -16 +7

D +16 -23 +7

E +8 +16 +1

F +4 -16 -1

G +4 -23 -1

H -8 -16 -8
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Lesson 13

Question 4

Two radioactive samples, X and Y, are investigated. The half life of X is 2 hours, the half
life of Y is 4 hour.

After 6 hours, the count rate of X is 25, and after 8 hours the count rate of Y is 110.

What is the original count rate of each sample?

Count Rate of X Count Rate of Y

A 440 200

B 400 440

C 100 880

D 200 440

E 200 880

F 100 220

G 100 880