Section 2: Radioactive Decay

Unstable nuclei can break apart spontaneously, changing the identity of

atoms.
K W L
What I Know What I Want to Find Out What I Learned
• 12(B) Describe radioactive decay process in terms of balanced nuclear
equations.
• 2(H) Organize, analyze, evaluate, make inferences, and predict trends
from data.
• 2(I) Communicate valid conclusions supported by the data through methods
such as lab reports, labeled drawings, graphs, journals, summaries, oral
reports, and technology–based reports.
• 12(A) Describe the characteristics of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.

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Essential Questions
• Why are certain nuclei radioactive?
• How are nuclear equations balanced?
• How can you use radioactive decay rates to analyze samples of
radioisotopes?

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Vocabulary
Review New
•radioactivity • transmutation
• nucleon
• strong nuclear force
• band of stability
• positron emission
• positron
• electron capture
• radioactive decay series
• half-life
• radiochemical dating

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Nuclear Stability
• Except for gamma radiation, radioactive decay involves transmutation, or the
conversion of an element into another element.
• Protons and neutrons are referred to as nucleons.
• All nucleons remain in the dense nucleus because of the strong nuclear force.
• The strong nuclear force acts on subatomic particles that are extremely close
together and overcomes the electrostatic repulsion among protons.

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Nuclear Stability
• As atomic number increases, more and more neutrons are needed to produce a
strong nuclear force that is sufficient to balance the electrostatic repulsion between
protons.
• Neutron to proton ratio increases gradually to about 1.5:1.

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Nuclear Stability
• The area on the graph within which all
stable nuclei are found is known as the
band of stability.
• All radioactive nuclei are found outside
the band.

• The band ends at

Pb-208; all elements with atomic
numbers greater than 82 are radioactive.

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Types of Radioactive Decay
Atoms can undergo different types of decay—
beta decay, alpha decay, positron emission, or
electron captures—to gain stability.
• In beta decay, radioisotopes above the
band of stability have too many neutrons
to be stable.

• Beta decay decreases the number of

neutrons in the nucleus by converting one
to a proton and emitting a beta particle.

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Types of Radioactive Decay
• In alpha decay, nuclei with more than 82
protons are radioactive and decay
spontaneously.

• Both neutrons and protons must be

reduced.

• Emitting alpha particles reduces both

neutrons and protons.

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Types of Radioactive Decay
Nuclei with low neutron to proton ratios have two common decay processes.
• A positron is a particle with the same mass as an electron but opposite
charge.

• Positron emission is a radioactive decay process that involves the emission

of a positron from the nucleus.

• During positron emission, a proton in the nucleus is converted to a neutron

and a positron, and the positron is then emitted.

• Electron capture occurs when the nucleus of an atom draws in a

surrounding electron and combines with a proton to form a neutron.

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Types of Radioactive Decay

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Writing and Balancing Nuclear Equations
Nuclear reactions are expressed by balanced nuclear equations.

• In balanced nuclear equations, mass numbers and charges are conserved.

Ex. A plutonium-238 atom undergoes alpha decay, write a balanced

equation for this decay.

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BALANCING A NUCLEAR EQUATION
Use with Example Problem 1.
Problem
NASA uses the alpha decay of plutonium-238 ()
as a heat source on spacecraft. Write a balanced
equation for this decay.
Response
ANALYZE THE PROBLEM
You are given that a plutonium atom undergoes
alpha decay and forms an unknown product.
Plutonium-238 is the initial reactant, while the alpha
particle is one of the products of the reaction.
KNOWN
reactant: plutonium-238 ()
decay type: alpha particle emission ()
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UNKNOWN
mass number of the product A = ?
atomic number of the product Z = ?
reaction product X = ?
SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN
• Apply the conservation of mass number.
238 = A + 4
• Solve for A.
A = 238 - 4 = 234
Thus, the mass number of X is 234.
• Write the balanced nuclear equation.
The periodic table identifies the element as
uranium (U). → +
EVALUATE THE ANSWER
The correct formula for an alpha particle is
used. The sums of the superscripts and
subscripts on each side of the equation are
equal. Therefore, the charge and the
mass number are conserved. The nuclear
equation is balanced.
Radioactive Decay
Radioactive Series
A series of nuclear reactions that begins with an unstable nucleus and results in
the formation of a stable nucleus is called a radioactive decay series.

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Radioactive Decay Rates
A half-life is the time required for one-half of a radioisotope to decay into its
products.

• Radioactive decay rates are measured in half-lives.

N is the remaining amount.

N0 is the initial amount.
n is the number of half-lives that
have passed.
t is the elapsed time and T is the
duration of the half-life.

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Radioactive Decay Rates

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Radioactive Decay Rates
The process of determining the age of an object by measuring the amount of
certain isotopes is called radiochemical dating.

• Carbon-dating is used to measure the age of artifacts that were once part of
a living organism.

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CALCULATING THE AMOUNT OF REMAINING ISOTOPE

Use with Example Problem 2.

Response
Problem ANALYZE THE PROBLEM
Krypton-85 is used in indicator lights of
You are given a known mass of a radioisotope
appliances. The half-life of krypton-85 is 11
with a known half-life. You must first determine
y. How much of a 2.000-mg sample
the number of half-lives that passed during the 33-
remains after 33 y?
year period. Then, use
the exponential decay equation to calculate the
amount of the sample remaining.
KNOWN
UNKNOWN
Initial amount = 2.000 mg
Amount remaining = ? mg
Elapsed time (t) = 33 y Half-life (T ) = 11 y

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CALCULATING THE AMOUNT OF REMAINING ISOTOPE

SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN EVALUATE THE ANSWER

• Determine the number of half-lives passed Three half-lives are equivalent to , or . The
during the 33 y. answer (0.25 mg) is equal to of the initial
Number of half-lives (n) = amount. The answer has two significant
figures because the number of years has two
• Substitute t = 33 y and T = 11 y. significant figures. n does not affect the
number of significant figures.
• Write the exponential decay equation.
Amount remaining = (initial amount)()n
• Substitute initial amount = 2.000 mg and n = 3.
Amount remaining = (2.000 mg)()3.0
Amount remaining = (2.000 mg)() = 0.2500 mg

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Review
Essential Questions
• Why are certain nuclei radioactive?
• How are nuclear equations balanced?
• How can you use radioactive decay rates to analyze samples of
radioisotopes?
Vocabulary
• transmutation • positron emission • half-life
• nucleon • positron • radiochemical
• strong nuclear force • electron capture dating
• band of stability • radioactive decay
series

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