Name _________________
Kaspriskie
KEY_______________
CP Chemistry 2015-16
Notes Chapter 25 Nuclear Reactions
Nuclear Reactions
Comparing Alpha, Beta and Gamma Radiation
Name
Symbol
Charge
Mass
Alpha
4
2𝐻𝑒 or α
𝑜
−1𝑒 or 𝛽
Positive
4 amu (heaviest)
Level of
Radiation
Lowest
Negative
0 amu
Middle
Neutral
0 amu
Highest (burst of
energy)
Beta
Gamma

Radioactivity: : a process by which unstable nuclei emit particles of ionizing radiation, including alpha
particles, beta particles and gamma rays.
Fission Reaction: a reaction in which the nucleus splits, or emits particles of radiation
Types of Natural Radioactivity:
1.
alpha particle:
α
4
or 2𝐻𝑒
2 protons, 2 neutrons - positively charged,
heaviest
DECAY = particle is emitted (is a product of the reaction)
EXAMPLES:
238
92𝑈

234
90𝑇ℎ
2.
𝟐𝟑𝟖
𝟒
𝟗𝟐𝑼 𝟐𝑯𝒆
(alpha decay)

+
𝟐𝟑𝟒
𝟗𝟎𝑻𝒉
𝟒
𝟐𝟑𝟎
(alpha decay with gamma radiation) 234
90𝑇ℎ 𝟐𝑯𝒆 +
𝟖𝟖𝑹𝒂
𝑜
Beta Particle: −1𝑒
or
+ 
𝑜
−1𝛽
DECAY = particle is emitted (is a product of the reaction)
CAPTURE = particle is aborbed (is a reactant of the reaction)
EXAMPLES:
14
6𝐶

24
10𝑁𝑒

204
84𝑃𝑜
(beta decay with gamma radiation )
(beta decay with gamma radiation)
(beta capture with x rays )
𝟏𝟒
𝟔𝑪
𝟐𝟒
𝟏𝟎𝑵𝒆
𝟐𝟎𝟒
𝟖𝟒𝑷𝒐

𝟎
𝟏𝟒
𝟕𝑵 + −𝟏𝒆 +

𝟎
𝟐𝟒
 𝟏𝟏𝑵𝒂 + −𝟏𝒆 +
𝒐
+ −𝟏𝒆

𝟐𝟎𝟒
𝟖𝟑𝑩𝒊

+ x-rays
3. What is gamma radiation? Why is it so harmful?
Gamma radiation is a form of energy given off during a nuclear reaction. It is harmful because it is
capable of penetrating the skin.
PRACTICE: Write equations for the following nuclear reactions:
1.
alpha decay with gamma radiation
 𝟒𝟐𝑯𝒆 +
60
27𝐶𝑜
2.
beta decay
131
53𝐼
3.

𝟏𝟑𝟏
𝟓𝟒𝑿𝒆
 𝟒𝟐𝑯𝒆 +
𝟎
−𝟏𝒆
𝟏𝟎𝟓
𝟒𝟒𝑹𝒖
beta decay with gamma radiation
𝟐𝟔𝟗
269
110𝐷𝑠 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝑹𝒈
5.
+
alpha decay
109
46𝑃𝑑
4.
+ 
𝟓𝟔
𝟐𝟓𝑴𝒏
+
𝟎
−𝟏𝒆
+ 
beta capture with x rays
+ −𝟏𝒐𝒆
188
76𝑂𝑠
6. 19𝐾  −1𝑒
42
0

𝟒𝟐
𝟐𝟎𝑪𝒂
+
7.
239
4
94𝑃𝑢  2𝐻𝑒
8.
𝟒
235
92𝑈  𝟐𝑯𝒆
+
𝟐𝟑𝟓
𝟗𝟐𝑼
+ 231
90𝑇ℎ
𝟏𝟖𝟖
𝟕𝟓𝑹𝒆
+ x-rays
9.
𝟒𝟎
40
𝟏𝟗𝑲 20𝐶𝑎
14
10. 7𝑁
11.
0
−1𝛽
+ 10𝑛 𝟏𝟒𝟔𝑪 + 11𝐻
𝟐𝟑𝟖
𝟗𝟐𝑼
0
+ 10𝑛 239
93𝑁𝑝 + −1𝛽
113
+ 10𝑛 𝟏𝟏𝟒
𝟒𝟖𝑪𝒅 + 
12. 48𝐶𝑑
2
13. 1𝐻
+ 𝟑𝟏𝑯  42𝐻𝑒 + 10𝑛
239
14. 92𝑈
1
15. 1𝐻
16.
+
+ 31𝐻  𝟒𝟐𝑯𝒆
9
4𝐵𝑒
6
1
+ 42𝐻𝑒 𝟐𝟒𝟐
𝟗𝟒𝑷𝒖 + 0𝑛
17. 3𝐿𝑖
+ 11𝐻  𝟔𝟑𝑳𝒊 + 42𝛼
+ 10𝑛 42𝐻𝑒 + 𝟑𝟏𝑯
18.
56
26𝐹𝑒
19.
209
83𝐵𝑖
+ 21𝐻  𝟒𝟐𝑯𝒆 + 54
25𝑀𝑛
+
54
1
24𝐶𝑟  0𝑛
+ 𝟐𝟔𝟐
𝟏𝟎𝟕𝑩𝒉