Name:________________________________________ Date:__________________ Per:___________
Nuclear Chemistry Guided Notes
1. Nuclear reactions occur when nuclei emit _____________________________.
2. During a nuclear reaction, atoms are converted into _____________________________.
3. In 1985, _______________________________ found that invisible rays are emitted
when electrons bombarded the surface of certain materials.
4. When electrons are bombarded on the surface of certain materials, the invisible high
energy emissions that darken photographic plates are called ________________.
5. Marie and Pierre Curie isolated the components of emitted rays. They called the process
by which materials give off such rays ____________________.
6. Rays and particles emitted by a radioactive source are called ______________________.
7. In 1889, what 2 new elements did the Curies identify? _____________________ and
______________________________
8. ________________________ are atoms of the same element that have different numbers
of neutrons.
9. Radioisotopes are isotopes of atoms with __________________ nuclei.
10. ___________________________ is a process by which radioisotopes emit radiation to
attain more stable atomic configurations.
11. What is the symbol for Alpha Decay? __________________________
12. Alpha particles carry a ______________ charge and are deflected toward a negatively
charged plate.
13. What is capable of stopping alpha particles? ____________________________
14. Alpha particles have the same composition as a ______________________nucleus, two
protons and two neutrons. This is the reason for the symbol.
15. Alpha particles are emitted from the ______________________ of an atom.
16. A new nucleus is formed when there is a _______________of an alpha particle.
17. Complete the following example of an alpha decay:
238
→
+
4
2+
92
2
U
He
18. What is the symbol for Beta Decay?___________________________
19. Beta particles carry a _____charge and are deflected toward the positively charged plate.
20. Beta decay consists of a very fast moving electron that has been emitted from a
____________________ of an unstable nucleus.
21. In Beta decay, the zero superscript in the symbol indicates the insignificant mass of an
_____________ in comparison with the mass of a nucleus.
22. During Beta decay, the -1 subscript denotes the _____________________ charge of the
particle.
23. During Beta decay, the mass number of the product nucleus is _____________________
of the original nucleus.
24. Beta decay has __________________________ penetrating power than alpha particles.
25. Beta decay can be stopped by _________________________________________.
Name:________________________________________ Date:__________________ Per:___________
Nuclear Chemistry Guided Notes
26. Complete the following example of Beta Decay:
→ 0
1
β
+
131
54
Xe
27. What is the symbol for Gamma decay? ____________________________
28. Gamma radiation is high energy __________________________ radiation.
29. The emission of gamma rays does not change the _______________ number or mass
number of a nucleus.
30. Gamma rays almost always accompany _______________ and _______________
radiation, as they account for most of the energy loss that occurs as a nucleus decays.
31. Gamma rays are ___________________________ penetrating and can be very damaging
to living tissue.
32. Gamma rays are only partially blocked by ________________ and ________________,
33. Complete the following example of gamma emission:
12
6
C
0
0
γ