Name_______________________________________________
Regents Chemistry
Date_________
Nuclear Chemistry Notes and Practice #1
Major Understandings
1. An “Artificial Transmutation” can be induced by the bombardment of a stable nucleus with high energy particles,
causing the formation of a different element.
2. A “Particle Accelerator” can be used to induce an artificial transmutation reaction. It can only be used to
accelerate charged particles.
3. A “Fission” reaction occurs when a large nucleus of one element is split into 2 smaller nuclei of different elements.
4. A “Breeder Reactor” is a special type of fission reactor that produces energy and more fuel at the same time.
5. A “Fusion” reaction occurs when 2 small nuclei are joined to form 1 larger nucleus of a different element.
6. “ E = mc2 “ can be used to explain how fission and fusion reactions produce energy. A small amount of matter
(mass) is converted into a HUGE amount of energy.
Skill #1 – Determining if a particle can be accelerated
Key Ideas
1.
Only charged particles can be accelerated.
2.
Use Table O to look up the charge on a particle.
1. Complete the chart below for each of the following nuclear emanations:
Name
beta particle
proton
gamma radiation
alpha particle
positron
neutron
Notation
Symbol
Charge
Can this emanation
be accelerated by a
particle accelerator?
Skill #2 – Classifying transmutation reactions
Key Ideas
1.
All natural transmutation reactions will have only 1 reactant. The 1 reactant will decay by itself
spontaneously.
2.
All artificial transmutation reactions will have 2 or more reactants. The reactants will NOT react
spontaneously (on earth).
3.
A fission reaction is an artificial transmutation involving uranium – 235, uranium – 233,
or plutonium – 239, and a neutron as the 2 reactants.
4.
A fusion reaction is an artificial transmutation (on earth) involving hydrogen isotopes as the 2 reactants.
Helium will be the product or one of the products.
2. Complete the chart below for each of the following transmutation reactions:
Transmutation Reaction
238
U  4He + 234Th
2
27
235
U + 1n 
Kr + 140Ba + 3 1n
C 
14
N +
-1e
U + 1n  2 –1e +
222
n +
P + 1n
H + 2H  4He + 1n
14
238
93
30
Li + 1n  3H + 4He
3
1
H + 2H  4He
Al + 4He 
6
Rn 
Pu 
239
131
14
Is this a natural or
artificial transmutation?
I 
239
Pu
218
Po + 4He
90
Sr +
-1e
+
147
Ba + 3 1n
131
Xe
N + 4He  1H +
17
O
Is this an example of
fission or fusion?
Key Ideas
Used