(Radioactivity and
Decay)
Date
Date Date Into
Issued Due Grade
Book
Assignment
Currently Open
Summative
or
Formative
QUIZ – ACIDS, BASES, and
pH
S
3/9
3/9
WS – Acid-Base Strength
F
3/19
3/21
WS – Neutralization
Reactions
F
3/21
3/23
QUIZ - Strength of Acids &
Bases, Neutralization, Acid
Rain
S
3/23
3/23
WS – Nuclear Reactions and
Nuclear Forces
F
3/26 or 27
3/30
3/9
Last
Day
3/30
Announcements
I will be available this
afternoon after school until
4:45.
Radioactivity
Radioactivity is any process where
the nucleus emits particles or
energy.
Example: The nucleus of a
uranium-238 atom is radioactive.
It emits radiation in the forms of
particles and energy as it
transforms itself into an atom with
a more stable nucleus.
Radioactivity
Uranium-238
emits two
protons and
two neutrons
to become a
thorium-234
atom.
Eventually,
uranium-238
decays
naturally to
lead-206,
which is not
radioactive.
The entire
decay process
takes about 5
billion years!
Radioactivity
Unstable isotopes emit radioactive
decay in the form of:
Alpha particles
Beta particles
Gamma rays
Alpha Decay
When a radioactive
isotope undergoes
alpha decay, it
ejects an alpha
particle that has
two protons and
two neutrons.
Beta Decay
Beta decay
occurs when
a neutron in
the nucleus
of a
radioactive
isotope
splits into a
proton and
an electron.
The protons
stays behind
in the nucleus
and the
electron is
ejected as a
beta particle.
Ex) C-14 undergoes
beta decay to
become N-14.
Gamma Decay
Gamma decay involves the
release of high-energy,
electromagnetic radiation
from the nucleus of an atom.
Gamma rays have much
more energy than x-rays.
Alpha or Beta Decay?
Au-185 decays to Ir-181.
Which type of decay is this?
Nuclear Fusion Reactions Produce
Energy
Using Nuclear Fission Reactions to
Produce Energy
Nuclear reactors on Earth
that use fission to produce
heat, which then generates
steam for running turbines,
which generate electricity.
The U.S. gets about
20% of its energy from
nuclear reactors.
Worksheet
Radioactivity, Decay,
and Half-Life