Name ___________________
Reading Guide: Nuclear Chemistry
Honors Chemistry
Carpenito/Dinota
Chapter 21
Section 21.1: The Nucleus
Define the following terms:
nucleon
nuclide
mass defect
nuclear binding energy
transmutation
Answer the following questions:
How does mass defect relate to nuclear binding energy?
How does binding energy per nucleon affect the stability of a nucleus?
What is meant by the band of stability?
Why does an element with a large atomic number require a greater number of neutrons to have a stable nucleus?
Section 21.2: Radioactive Decay
Define the following terms:
Radioactive Decay
radioactive nuclide
positron
decay series
Answer the following questions:
What changes in atomic number and mass number occur in each of the following types of radioactive decay?
a. alpha emission
b. beta emission
c. positron emission
d. electron capture
Why do some elements emit beta particles?
Explain the difference between positron emission and electron capture.
Write a balance nuclear equation for the reaction in which oxygen-15 undergoes positron emission.
Write a balanced nuclear equation for the alpha decay of americium-241.
Complete the following equations:
a.
214
83𝐵𝑖
b.
239
93𝑁𝑝
4
2𝐻𝑒


+ _____
239
94𝑃𝑢
+ _____
Identify the following reactions as a natural transmutation or an artificial transmutation. Explain how you would
know.
a.
235
92𝑈
+ 10𝑛 
b.
234
91𝑃𝑎

142
56𝐵𝑎
234
92𝑈
+
+
91
36𝐾𝑟
+ 3 10𝑛
0
−1𝑒
Thorium-229 is used to increase the lifetime of fluorescent bulbs. What type of decay occurs when thorium-229
decays to form radium-225?
Flaws in welded metal parts of airplanes can be identified by placing the isotope iridium-192 on one side of the
weld and photographic film on the other side to detect gamma rays that pass through. How does the gamma ray
emission affect the atomic number and mass number of the iridium?
Calculate how much of a 10.0 g sample of americium-241 remains after four half-lives. Americium-241 is a
radioisotope commonly used in smoke detectors and has a half-life of 430 years.
It takes approximately 60 hours for a radioisotope to be delivered to a hospital from the laboratory where it was
produced. What fraction of an original sample of Na-24 remains unchanged after 60 hours?
Static charge can interfere with the production of plastic products by attracting dust and dirt. To reduce it,
manufacturers expose the area to polonium-210, which has a half-life of 138 days. How much of a 25.0 g sample
will remain after one year (365 days)?
Why are neutrons more effective for bombarding atomic nuclei than protons or alpha particles?
Why are all transuranium elements radioactive?
Section 21.3 : Nuclear Radiation
Define the following terms:
roentgen
rem
radioactive dating
radioactive tracer
Answer the following questions:
Why can a radioactive material affect photographic film even though the film is completely wrapped in black
paper?
How does the penetrating power of gamma rays compare with that of alpha and beta particles?
How does nuclear radiation damage biological tissue?
How is the age of an object that contains a radioisotope estimated?
Explain how nuclear chemistry is used to diagnose or treat disease.
What property of isotopes allows radiotracers to be useful in studying chemical reactions.
Some radioisotopes used for medical imaging have half-lives as short as several hours. Why is a short half-life
beneficial? Why is it a problem?
Section 21.4: Nuclear Fission and Nuclear fusion
Define the following terms:
nuclear fission
nuclear fusion
chain reaction
critical mass
Answer the following questions:
What is one possible advantage of using nuclear power instead of burning fossil fuels? What is one possible risk?
Compare and contrast nuclear fission and nuclear fusion reactions. Describe the particles that are involved in
each type of reaction and the changes they undergo.
Explain why heavy atoms undergo nuclear fission.
In a nuclear reaction, the sum of the masses of the products is slightly less than the sum of the masses of the
reactants. Explain this loss of mass.
What is the purpose of control rods in a nuclear reactor?
Why is the fuel of a nuclear reactor enriched?
Describe the current limitations of fusion as a power source.