CHEM 124 - Activity 9

Nuclear chemistry

Liwanag, Aneska Xyra O. June 19, 2022

BSCE-1E

Radioactive decay

1. (4 points) The half-life of Zn-71 is 2.4 minutes. If there were 100.0 g of Zn-71
initially, how much would be left after 7.2 minutes?

T1/2 = ln2
λ
N = No e−λT1/2
λ= N = (100g)e− 2.4 (7.2)
ln2 ln2
T11/2

λ= ln2 N= 12.5 g of Zn-71 after 7.2 minutes

2.4minutes

2. (4 points) Pd-100 has a half-life of 3.6 days. If there were 6.02 × 1023 atoms at the
start, how many atoms will be present after 20.0 days?

T1/2 = 3.6days N = No e−λT1/2

ln2
T1/2 = N = (6.02x1023 )e−( 3.6days )20days
ln2
λ
ln2
λ= T1/2 N = 1.28x1022 atoms of Pd-100
ln2
λ= 3.6days

3. (4 points) Technetium-99m is used to form pictures of internal organs in the body

and is often used to assess heart damage. The “m” (metastable) indicates that the
nuclide is in an excited state and decays to the ground state via gamma emission.
The decay constant of 99
∗
43 T c is 1.16×1023 hours. What is the half-life of this
nuclide?

λ = 1.16x1023 hours
T1/2 = ln2
λ
l 2

CHEM 124 - Activity 9 1

 ln2
T1/2 = 1.16x1023 hours
−24
T1/2 = 5.975x10

Nuclear binding energy

4. (6 points) Calculate the total energy released (in MeV) when Uranium-238 decays
by alpha emission to Thorium-234. The masses are 238
92 U = 238.058 amu and
234
90 T h = 234.0436 amu.

238
92 U →234 4
90 T h +2 He

238
92 U = 238.058amu
234
90 T h = 234.0436amu
4
2 He = 4.002603amu

Δm = 238.058amu − 9234.0436amu + 4.002603amu

Δm = 0.0118amu

931M eV
ER = 0.0118amu x c2
ER = 10.9858MeV

5. (6 points) The O-16 atom has eight protons, eight neutrons, and eight electrons. Its
mass is 15.994 amu. Find its mass defect and the binding energy per nucleon.

Mass Defect:

Δm = (ZMp + NMn ) − MN ucleus

Δm = (8Mp + 8Mn ) − MN ucleus
Δm = (8(1.0073amu) + 8(1.0087amu)) − MN ucleus

MN ucleus :
MN ucleus = Mc − 8Me

CHEM 124 - Activity 9 2

 MN ucleus = 15.994amu − 8(0.00055amu)
MN ucleus = 15.9896amu
Δm = (8(1.0073amu) + 8(1.0087amu)) − 15.9896amu
Δm = 0.1384amu or 2.29x10−28 kg

Binding Energy:

E = Δmc2
E = (2.29x10−28 kg)(3x108 )2
E = 2.068x10−11 J or 128.85 MeV per nucleon

6. (6 points) Calculate the binding energy per mole of a U-235 nuclide. Express your
answer in
kJ/mol.

U=235 nuclide
Mass= 235.043943 amu

Mp=92
Mn=143

Δm = (92(1.0073amu) + 143(1.0087amu)) − 235.043943amu

Δm = 1.871757amu(1.66x10−27 kg)
Δm = 3.107x10−27 kg

E = 3.107x10−27 kg(3x108 )2
E = 2.8x10−10 J /nucleon

23
2.8x10−10 N ucleon
J
( 1000kJ
1J
)( 6.022x10
1mol
nuclei
) = 1.69x1027 kJ /mol

CHEM 124 - Activity 9 3

CHEM 124 - Activity 9 4