Advanced Chemistry
Name___________________________
NOTES
Ch. 16: Nuclear Chemistry
What IS it?
I.
Radioactive Decay
A. When an _____________ nucleus loses energy by emitting ______________
B. Radiation:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
II.
Radioactive Decay
A. Why are some nuclei unstable?
1.
Unfavorable ratio of ______________ to _______________.
2. Nucleus adjusts itself by losing _______________ and emitting
________________.
3. Process known as radioactive decay.
4. An isotope of an element that emits radiation is a called a
______________________.
Nuclear Decay & Transmutation Reactions:
Description
Alpha
Type of Particle
Example
Effects
Description
Type of Particle
Example
Effects
Description
Type of Particle
Example
Effects
Beta
Gamma
REMEMBER: In a nuclear equation, the sum of the mass numbers and the sum of the
atomic numbers on one side of the arrow must equal the sum of the mass numbers and
the sum of the atomic numbers on the other side.
Radioactive nucleus
new nucleus
+
radiation (α, β, β+, γ)