Chapter 21 Nuclear Chemistry
Chapter Opener
__Chapter Overview, TE Review the objectives listed in the Student Edition.
Section 1 The Nucleus
PACING: 45 minutes
PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
3.2.A.1 Compare and contrast scientific theories and beliefs.
Objectives
1. Explain what a nuclide is, and describe the different ways nuclides can be represented.
2. Define and relate the terms mass defect and nuclear binding energy.
3. Explain the relationship between nucleon number and stability of nuclei.
4. Explain why nuclear reactions occur and know how to balance a nuclear equation.
FOCUS (5 minutes)
__ Lesson Starter, TE Have students compare and contrast chemical and nuclear reactions.
MOTIVATE (10 minutes)
__Motivation Strategy Develop a class list of practical applications of nuclear chemistry.
TEACH (20 minutes)
__PowerPoint
__Visual Strategy, Figure 1, TE Discuss the point at which binding energy is the greatest in this
graph.
__Visual Strategy, Figure 3, TE Use this figure to discuss the attractive and repulsive forces
within the nucleus.
__Sample Problem A, SE Demonstrate how to identify the product that balances a nuclear reaction
__Practice Problems A, SE Students identify the products that balance nuclear reactions.
__Cross-Disciplinary Connection, Quarks, SE Students can read about these subatomic particles.
CLOSE (10 minutes)
__Section Review, SE Students answer end-of-section vocabulary, key ideas, critical thinking, and
interpreting graphics questions.
OTHER RESOURCE OPTIONS
__Study Guide, Section Review
__Section Quiz
__Additional Sample Problems, TE Demonstrate how to calculate the nuclear binding energy of
various atoms and how identify the product balances of the given nuclear reaction.
__Additional Practice Problems, EXT Students can get more practice completing nuclear
equations.
Section 2 Radioactive Decay
PACING: 135 minutes
PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
3.1.B.2 Examine the advantages of using models to demonstrate processes and outcomes;
3.2.A.2 Know that science uses both direct and indirect observation means to study the world and the
universe;
3.2.B.1 Describe materials using precise quantitative and qualitative skills based on observations;
3.2.B.2 Develop appropriate scientific experiments: raising questions, formulating hypotheses, testing,
controlled experiments, recognizing variables, manipulating variables, interpreting data, and producing
solutions;
3.2.B.3 Use process skills to make inferences and predictions using collected information and to
communicate, using space / time relationships, defining operationally;
3.2.C.2 Evaluate the appropriateness of questions;
3.2.C.4 Conduct a multiple step experiment;
3.2.C.5 Organize experimental information using a variety of analytic methods;
3.2.C.6 Judge the significance of experimental information in answering the question.
Objectives
1. Define and relate the terms radioactive decay and nuclear radiation.
2. Describe the different types of radioactive decay and their effects on the nucleus.
3. Define the term half-life, and explain how it relates to the stability of a nucleus.
4. Define and relate the terms decay series, parent nuclide, and daughter nuclide.
5. Explain how artificial radioactive nuclides are made, and discuss their significance.
FOCUS (5 minutes)
__ Lesson Starter, TE Have students propose different ways for an unstable nucleus to get into the
band of stability.
MOTIVATE (10 minutes)
__Motivation Strategy Discuss the practical applications of carbon-14 and other radioactive
isotopes used to estimate the ages of materials.
TEACH (110 minutes)
__PowerPoint
__Table Strategy, Table 1, Radioactive Nuclide Emissions, TE Point out that the beta particle
and a positron particle have the same mass.
__Reading Skill Builder, Reading Hint, TE Have students read the section, then discuss in pairs
the characteristics of radioactive decay.
__Visual Strategy, Figures 4 and 5, TE Point out that the total mass of the nucleus does not
change in beta decay; just the atomic number changes.
__Table Strategy, Table 2, Representative Radioactive Nuclides and Their Half-Lives, TE
Have students compare half-lives of the nuclei listed in this table.
__Sample Problem B, SE Demonstrate how to perform half-life calculations on isotopes
__Practice Problems B, SE Students perform half-life calculations on isotopes.
__Visual Strategy, Figure 8, TE Have students write the equations for the differing decay types in
this figure.
__Math Tutor, Calculating Half-Life, SE Review the methods for calculating half-life quantities.
__Chapter Lab, Skills Practice Lab, Simulation of Nuclear Decay Using Pennies and Paper, SE
Students simulate radioactive half-lives by finding the fraction of pennies that turn over each time
they shake the box the pennies are in and by cutting strips of paper in half a number of times.
__Datasheet for In-Text Lab, Simulation of Nuclear Decay Using Pennies and Paper, ANC
Students use the datasheet to complete the Chapter Lab.
__Skills Practice Experiment, Radioactivity, ANC
CLOSE (10 minutes)
__Section Review, SE Students answer end-of-section vocabulary, key ideas, critical thinking, and
interpreting graphics questions.
__Alternative Assessment, TE Students can determine whether given reactions involve alpha
decay, beta decay, positron emission, or electron decay.
OTHER RESOURCE OPTIONS
__Study Guide, Section Review
__Section Quiz
__Additional Sample Problems, TE Demonstrate how to perform half-life calculations for
isotopes.
__Additional Practice Problems, EXT Students can get more practice calculating the half-life of
an isotope.
Section 3 Nuclear Radiation
PACING: 45 minutes
PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
3.1.E.1 Describe how fundamental science and technology concepts are used to solve practical problems.
Objectives
1. Compare the penetrating ability and shielding requirements of alpha particles, beta particles, and
gamma rays.
2. Define the terms roentgen and rem, and distinguish between them.
3. Describe three devices used in radiation detection.
4. Discuss applications of radioactive nuclides.
FOCUS (5 minutes)
__ Lesson Starter, TE Use this demonstration to show how distance and different types of
shielding affect beta radiation.
MOTIVATE (10 minutes)
__Demonstration, TE Use standard kits to test for radon in the classroom.
TEACH (20 minutes)
__PowerPoint
__Visual Strategy, Figure 8, TE Have students find the decay product of radon-222.
__Discussion, TE Discuss both the benefits and hazards of using radioactivity.
__Discussion, TE Discuss why the issue of dealing with nuclear waste is so charged.
__Skills Practice Experiment, Detecting Radioactivity, ANC
CLOSE (10 minutes)
__Section Review, SE Students answer end-of-section vocabulary, key ideas, critical thinking, and
interpreting graphics questions.
OTHER RESOURCE OPTIONS
__Study Guide, Section Review
__Section Quiz
Section 4 Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion
PACING: 45 minutes
PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
3.1.A. 2 Describe the interrelationships among inputs, processes, outputs, feedback and control in specific
systems.
Objectives
1. Define nuclear fission, chain reaction, and nuclear fusion, and distinguish between them.
2. Explain how a fission reaction is used to generate power.
3. Discuss the possible benefits and the current difficulty of controlling fusion reactions.
FOCUS (5 minutes)
__ Lesson Starter, TE Compare the relative energy changes in a physical change, a chemical
reaction, and a nuclear reaction.
MOTIVATE (10 minutes)
__Demonstration, TE Use a series of mousetraps and Ping-Pong balls to demonstrate a fission
chain reaction.
TEACH (20 minutes)
__PowerPoint
__Visual Strategy, Figure 14, TE Explain that this figure is a simplified model of a fission
reaction.
__Historical Chemistry, An Unexpected Finding, SE Students can read about the discovery of
uranium and its properties.
__Discussion, An Unexpected Finding, TE Have students identify researchers in the article and
note how their contributions were affected by the historical time period.
CLOSE (10 minutes)
__Section Review, SE Students answer end-of-section vocabulary, key ideas, critical thinking, and
interpreting graphics questions.
OTHER RESOURCE OPTIONS
__Study Guide, Section Review
__Section Quiz
End of Chapter Review and Assessment
PACING: 45 minutes
__Chapter Review, SE Students answer questions organized by section and as a mixed review.
__Chapter Test A, Nuclear Chemistry
OTHER RESOURCE OPTIONS
__Standardized Test Prep, SE Have students complete the standardized test prep to help them
prepare for standardized tests.
__Graphing Calculator, Half-Lives, EXT Go to go.hrw.com for this graphing calculator exercise
to determine the amount of radioactive isotope, based on its half-life.
__SciLinks Visit www.scilinks.org, maintained by the National Science Teachers Association,
for information on Half-Life, Radioisotopes, Fission, and Enrico Fermi.
__CNN Video, CNN Presents Science in the News: Chemistry Connections Segment 31,
Nuclear Waste and Segment 32, Radioisotopes in Medicine