Nuclear Reactions

Nuclear Reactions

 Processes in which a nucleus either combines

with another nucleus (through nuclear fusion)
or splits into smaller nuclei (through nuclear
fission)
 Radioactivity

 Processes involve the emission of energetic

particles of an atom.
 Radioactive Particles
 Electron – negative charge ( −10𝑒)
 Proton – positive charge ( 11𝑝)
 Neutron – no charge ( 10𝑛)
 Alpha particle – high-speed particle consisting
of 2 protons and 2 neutrons
 Beta particle – high-speed electron
 Gamma ray – high-energy stream of photons
 Positron – positive-charged electron
 Alpha Decay
- Disintegration of a nucleus into a nucleus of
another element with the emission of an alpha
particle
- Common for elements with atomic numbers
greater than 83
- Loss of an alpha particle ( 42𝛼)
Example:
alpha decay of Polonium – 210
210 206 4
84𝑃𝑜 82 𝑃𝑏 + 2𝛼
 Alpha Decay
228
232
90𝑇ℎ 88𝑅𝑎 + 42𝛼

222 218 4
86𝑅𝑛 84𝑃𝑜 + 2𝛼

231 227 4
91𝑃𝑎 89𝐴𝑐 + 2𝛼
 Beta Decay
- Disintegration of a nucleus into a nucleus of
another element with the emission of a beta
particle (electron)
- Loss of a beta particle ( −10𝛽)

Example:
Beta decay of carbon – 14
14 14 0
6𝐶 7𝑁 + −1𝛽
 Beta Decay
93 93 0
41𝑁𝑏 42𝑀𝑜 + −1𝛽

23 23 0
11𝑁𝑎 12𝑀𝑔 + −1𝛽

178 178 0
72𝐻𝑓 73𝑇𝑎 + −1𝛽
 Gamma Radiation
- Emission of a gamma ray ( 00𝛾)

Example:
Gamma radiation in alpha decay of Uranium – 238
238 234 4
92𝑈 90𝑇ℎ + 2𝛼 (alpha decay)
234 234 0
90𝑇ℎ 90𝑇ℎ + 0𝛾 (gamma radiation)
 Positron Emission
- Conversion of a proton in a nucleus into a
neutron, along with the release of positron ( +10𝑒 )

Example:
positron emission of oxygen
15 15
8𝑂 7𝑁 + +10𝑒
 Positron Emission

17 17 0
9𝐹 8𝑂 + +1𝑒

56 56 0
28𝑁𝑖 27𝐶𝑜 + +1𝑒

103 103 0
45𝑅ℎ 44𝑅𝑢 + +1𝑒
 Electron Capture
- Drawing of an electron ( −10𝑒 ) into an atom’s
nucleus

Example:
Electron capture of mercury – 201
201 0 201
80𝐻𝑔 + −1𝑒 79𝐴𝑢
 Electron Capture

209 0 209
83𝐵𝑖 + −1𝑒 82𝑃𝑏

131 0 131
54𝑋𝑒 + −1𝑒 53𝐼

79 79
34𝑆𝑒 + 33𝐴𝑠
0
−1𝑒
 Bombardment of Alpha Particle
- Addition of alpha particle

Example:
bombardment of Beryllium with an alpha particle

9
4𝐵𝑒 + 42𝛼 12
6𝐶 + 10𝑛
Sample Problem

1. Which among the given particles will

complete the nuclear reaction below?
( 10𝑛, 42𝛼, −10𝛽, +10𝑒)
226 222
88𝑅𝑎 86𝑅𝑛 + ____

2
Atomic number: 88 = 86 + ___
4
Atomic mass: 226 = 222 + ___
 Exercise

Which among the given particles will complete

the nuclear reaction below?
( 158
63𝐸𝑢, 158
64𝐺𝑑, 159
64𝐺𝑑 )

159 0
63𝐸𝑢 ____ + −1𝑒