STAAR Chemistry Review
Topic: Nuclear Chemistry
TEKS 12 – The student understands the
basic processes of nuclear chemistry.
Student Expectation (SE)
• Student Expectation (SE) 12A – describe the
characteristics of alpha, beta, and gamma
radiation.
INDEX CARD TIME!
TITLE: nuclear particles
FRONT: characteristics of nuclear particles
BACK: Draw a table to summarize the symbol, the
charge, mass (relative); speed (relative) and
penetration power (relative) of alpha, beta and
gamma ray.
Nuclear particles
• Alpha particle ()
– helium nucleus
 Beta particle (-)
 electron
 Gamma ()
 high-energy photon
4
2
0
-1
He
e
charge
2+
1-
0
Stopped by:
paper
Metal
Foil
lead
A. Types of Radiation
• Alpha particle ()
– helium nucleus
4
2
He
Alpha Emission – an alpha particle () is 2
protons and 2 neutrons (or a helium atom)
bound together and is emitted from the
nucleus during some kinds of radioactive
decay.
210
206
Po

Pb
+
84
82
Paper or clothes will shield you from alpha particles.
4
He
2
B. Types of Radiation
 Beta particle (-)
 electron
0
-1
e
Beta Emission – a beta particle () is an
electron emitted from the nucleus when a
neutron is converted to a proton
14
C
6

14
N
7
+
0

-1
Metal foil will shield you from beta particles.
C. Types of Radiation
Gamma Emission – gamma rays () are highenergy electromagnetic waves emitted from
a nucleus. Very similar to light, but is much
more dangerous.
Lead or concrete will protect you from
gamma rays.
 Gamma ()
 high-energy photon
Student Expectation (SE)
• Student Expectation (SE) 12B - describe
radioactive decay process in terms of balanced
nuclear equations;
INDEX CARD TIME!
TITLE: Radioactive Decay
FRONT: What are radioactive decay processes
BACK: Write the definition of radioactive decay
processes and give examples of balanced
nuclear reactions.
Balancing Nuclear Equations
• In nuclear equations the total of the atomic number
and the total of the mass number must be equal on
both sides of the equation.
Example:
9
4
12
1
Be +
He

C
+
n
4
2
6
0
Mass Number: 9+4 = 13
12+1 = 13
Atomic Number: 4+2 = 6
6+0 = 6
Student Expectation (SE)
• Student Expectation (SE) 12C – compare
fission and fusion reactions.
INDEX CARD TIME!
TITLE: Fission and Fusion
FRONT: Difference between Fission and Fusion
reactions
BACK: Write down the definition of Fission and
Fusion reactions emphasizing the difference
between them.
Nuclear Fission reaction – the splitting of a
nucleus into smaller fragments (the splitting is
caused by bombarding the nucleus with
neutrons). This process releases enormous
amounts of energy.
A nuclear chain reaction
is a reaction in which the
material that starts the
reaction (neutron) is also
one of the products and
can be used to start
another reaction.
Nuclear Fusion Reaction
* combining of two nuclei to form one
nucleus of larger mass, usually very
small atoms of hydrogen and helium are
used.
2
1
H H
3
1