chemistry unit 3- nuclear chemistry

the larger a nucleus is, the harder it is for it to stay together

when a nucleus is radioactive it gives off decay particles and changes from one element to another.

spontaneous disintegration of the nucleus of an atom, with the emission of particles and/ or energy

when a nucleus decays into new and different nucleus (also called radioactive decay)

how far into material the radioactive particle will go

always have one reactant and 2 products

the period of time that must go by for half of the nuclei in the sample to undergo decay. During a half-life period, half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample decays to a new, more stable nuclei

“man made” reaction caused by hitting a nucleus with a high energy particle, such as a neutron or alpha particles. Has neutrons only on reactant side

-stable nucleus and particle bullet collide to produce new products
-larger amount

-mass and charge conserved
-both form new elements
-both produce energy

-single, unstable reactant decays into a decay particle and new, more stable nucleus
-smaller amount

splitting of a nucleus into smaller nuclei, accompanied by a release of neutrons and large amount of energy (exothermic) has neutrons on both side of the equation

occurs when nuclei combine to produce a nucleus of greater mass
-exothermic process, much more energy than fission
-only has neutron on reactant side

-splits nucleus into smaller particles
-artificial transmutation
-used to produce electricity in power-plants
-produces radioactive waste

-both generate energy the same way: convert mass to energy

-combines 2 smaller nuclei together to form a larger one
-used by stars
-produces essentially no radioactive waste