Nuclear Chemistry Flashcards
(42 cards)
Radiation
Energy (as waves or particles) radiating from a source; the further away you are, the less radiation particles emitted
Ionizing Radiation
Higher energy radiation that causes particles to ionize, which can be damaging
Which order of rays is the highest in energy?
UV, X rays, gamma rays
———————————->
Which order of particles or rays is the strongest?
alpha particles, β (beta) particles, gamma radiation
———————————————————–>
Radioactive
unstable nuclei; go towards being stable by emitting particles or waves
Radioactivity
describes the rate of these emissions
Radioactivity units and meaning
Becquerel (Bq) and Curie (Ci)
1 Bq = 1 disintegration/s
Absorbed dose units
Gray (gy) and Rad
I Gy = 100 rad = 1 J/kg
Effective does units
Sievert (Sv) and Rem
1 Sv = 100 Rem
Radioactivity unit meaning
Rate
Absorbed dose meaning
How much radiation is present at one’s position
Effective dose meaning
How much radiation penetrates and is absorbed in a biological sample
Symbol for proton
1H1 or 1p1
Symbol for neutron
1n0
Symbol for alpha particle/decay
4He2 or 4(half infinity)2
Symbol for beta decay
0β-1
Symbol for positron emission
0β+1
Symbol for electron capture
0β+1
*occurs on left side of reaction
Symbol for gamma emission
o(cursive y)0
What happens when two beta particles collide
They annihilate each other so no particles are left; this breaks the law of conservation of mass, but the law of conservation of energy (First Law of Thermodynamics) holds
Transmutation
When an element turns into another element by a nuclear process in order to stabilize the nuclei
Decay
When one element falls apart, emitting a nuclear particle in order to stabilize the nuclei
What happens when
1) n:p ratio is too high
2) p too high P# > 83
3) n:p ratio is too low
1) beta decay
2) alpha decay
3) positron emission/electron capture
Rules when solving a nuclear process
1.) The bottom and top numbers must be equal on each side
2) Nuclear processes can be added to balance them
