NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY

By: Stephanie Chen

and

Stephanie Ng

RadioactivityRadioactivity

• One of the pieces of evidence for the One of the pieces of evidence for the fact that atoms are made of smaller fact that atoms are made of smaller particles came from the work ofparticles came from the work of

Marie CurieMarie Curie (1876-1934).(1876-1934). • She discoveredShe discovered radioactivityradioactivity, ,

the spontaneous disintegration of the spontaneous disintegration of some elements into smaller pieces.some elements into smaller pieces.

Nuclear Reactions vs. Nuclear Reactions vs. Normal Chemical Normal Chemical

ChangesChanges• Nuclear reactions involve the nucleusNuclear reactions involve the nucleus• The nucleus opens, and protons and The nucleus opens, and protons and

neutrons are rearrangedneutrons are rearranged• The opening of the nucleus releases a The opening of the nucleus releases a

tremendous amount of energy that tremendous amount of energy that holds the nucleus together – called holds the nucleus together – called binding energybinding energy

• ““Normal” Chemical Reactions involve Normal” Chemical Reactions involve electronselectrons, not protons and neutrons, not protons and neutrons

23.1

Types of RadiationTypes of Radiation

e01

He42

• Alpha (Alpha (άά) – a positively ) – a positively charged (+2) helium isotopecharged (+2) helium isotope - - we usually ignore the charge because it we usually ignore the charge because it involves electrons, not protons and neutronsinvolves electrons, not protons and neutrons

•Beta (Beta (ββ) – an electron) – an electron

•Gamma (Gamma (γγ) – pure energy; ) – pure energy; called a ray rather than a called a ray rather than a particleparticle

00

Other Nuclear ParticlesOther Nuclear Particles

e01

n10• NeutronNeutron

• Positron – a positive Positron – a positive electronelectron

•Proton – usually referred to Proton – usually referred to as hydrogen-1as hydrogen-1

•Any other elemental isotopeAny other elemental isotope

H11

Penetrating AbilityPenetrating Ability

XAZ

Mass Number

Atomic NumberElement Symbol

Atomic number (Z) = number of protons in nucleus

Mass number (A) = number of protons + number of neutrons

= atomic number (Z) + number of neutrons

A

Z

1p11H1or

proton1n0

neutron0e-1

0-1or

electron0e+1

0+1or

positron4He2

42or

particle

1

1

1

0

0

-1

0

+1

4

2

23.1

Balancing Nuclear Equations

1. Conserve mass number (A).

The sum of protons plus neutrons in the products must equal the sum of protons plus neutrons in the reactants.

1n0U23592 + Cs138

55 Rb9637

1n0+ + 2

235 + 1 = 138 + 96 + 2x1

2. Conserve atomic number (Z) or nuclear charge.

The sum of nuclear charges in the products must equal the sum of nuclear charges in the reactants.

1n0U23592 + Cs138

55 Rb9637

1n0+ + 2

92 + 0 = 55 + 37 + 2x023.1

212Po decays by alpha emission. Write the balanced nuclear equation for the decay of 212Po.

4He242oralpha particle -

212Po 4He + AX84 2 Z

212 = 4 + A A = 208

84 = 2 + Z Z = 82

212Po 4He + 208Pb84 2 82

23.1

Nuclear Stability and Radioactive Decay

Beta decay

14C 14N + 0 + 6 7 -1

40K 40Ca + 0 + 19 20 -1

1n 1p + 0 + 0 1 -1

Decrease # of neutrons by 1

Increase # of protons by 1

Positron decay

11C 11B + 0 + 6 5 +1

38K 38Ar + 0 + 19 18 +1

1p 1n + 0 + 1 0 +1

Increase # of neutrons by 1

Decrease # of protons by 1

and have A = 0 and Z = 023.2

Electron capture decay

Increase # of neutrons by 1

Decrease # of protons by 1

Nuclear Stability and Radioactive Decay

37Ar + 0e 37Cl + 18 17-1

55Fe + 0e 55Mn + 26 25-1

1p + 0e 1n + 1 0-1

Alpha decay

Decrease # of neutrons by 2

Decrease # of protons by 2212Po 4He + 208Pb84 2 82

Spontaneous fission

252Cf 2125In + 21n98 49 023.2

Learning Check

What radioactive isotope is produced in the following bombardment of boron?

10B + 4He 13N + 1n

5 2 7 0

Write Nuclear Equations!

Write the nuclear equation for the beta emitter Co-60.

6060CoCo 00ee ++ 6060NiNi2727 -1 -1 2828

Artificial Nuclear Artificial Nuclear ReactionsReactions

New elements or new isotopes of known New elements or new isotopes of known elements are produced by bombarding an elements are produced by bombarding an atom with a subatomic particle such as a atom with a subatomic particle such as a proton or neutron -- or even a much heavier proton or neutron -- or even a much heavier particle such as particle such as 44He and He and 1111B.B.

Reactions using neutrons are called Reactions using neutrons are called

reactions reactions because a because a ray is usually ray is usually emitted.emitted.

Radioisotopes used in medicine are often Radioisotopes used in medicine are often made by made by reactions. reactions.

Artificial Nuclear Artificial Nuclear ReactionsReactions

Example of a Example of a reaction reaction is is

production of radioactive production of radioactive 3131P for use P for use

in studies of P uptake in the body.in studies of P uptake in the body.

31311515P + P + 11

00n ---> n ---> 32321515P + P +

Transuranium ElementsTransuranium Elements

Elements beyond 92 Elements beyond 92 (transuranium)(transuranium) made made

starting with an starting with an reaction reaction

2382389292U + U + 11

00n ---> n ---> 2392399292U + U +

2392399292U U ---> ---> 239239

9393Np + Np + 00-1-1

2392399393Np Np ---> ---> 239239

9494Pu + Pu + 00-1-1

Nuclear Stability

• Certain numbers of neutrons and protons are extra stable

• n or p = 2, 8, 20, 50, 82 and 126

• Like extra stable numbers of electrons in noble gases (e- = 2, 10, 18, 36, 54 and 86)

• Nuclei with even numbers of both protons and neutrons are more stable than those with odd numbers of neutron and protons

• All isotopes of the elements with atomic numbers higher than 83 are radioactive

• All isotopes of Tc and Pm are radioactive

23.2

Band of Stability Band of Stability and Radioactive and Radioactive DecayDecay

Stability Stability of Nucleiof Nuclei

• Out of > 300 stable isotopes:

EvenEven OddOdd

OddOdd

EvenEven

ZZNN

157157 5252

5050 55

31311515PP

191999FF

2211H, H, 66

33Li, Li, 101055B, B, 1414

77N, N, 1801807373TaTa

Half-LifeHalf-Life

•HALF-LIFEHALF-LIFE is the time that it takes is the time that it takes for 1/2 a sample to decompose.for 1/2 a sample to decompose.

• The rate of a nuclear transformation The rate of a nuclear transformation depends only on the “reactant” depends only on the “reactant” concentration.concentration.

Half-LifeHalf-Life

Decay of 20.0 mg of Decay of 20.0 mg of 1515O. What remains after 3 half-lives? O. What remains after 3 half-lives? After 5 half-lives?After 5 half-lives?

Kinetics of Radioactive Kinetics of Radioactive DecayDecay

For each duration (half-life), one half of the substance

decomposes.

For example: Ra-234 has a half-life of 3.6 days

If you start with 50 grams of Ra-234

After 3.6 days > 25 gramsAfter 3.6 days > 25 grams

After 7.2 days > 12.5 gramsAfter 7.2 days > 12.5 grams

After 10.8 days > 6.25 gramsAfter 10.8 days > 6.25 grams

Kinetics of Radioactive Decay

N daughter

rate = -Nt

rate = N

Nt

= N-

N = N0e(-t) lnN = lnN0 - t

N = the number of atoms at time t

N0 = the number of atoms at time t = 0

is the decay constant (sometimes called k)

Ln 2=

t½

23.3

k =

Kinetics of Radioactive Decay

[N] = [N]0exp(-t) ln[N] = ln[N]0 - t

[N]

ln [

N]

23.3

Radiocarbon Dating

14N + 1n 14C + 1H7 160

14C 14N + 0 + 6 7 -1 t½ = 5730 years

Uranium-238 Dating

238U 206Pb + 8 4 + 6 092 -182 2 t½ = 4.51 x 109 years

23.3

Learning Check!

The half life of I-123 is 13 hr. How much of a 64 mg sample of I-123 is left after 31 hours?

Nuclear FissionNuclear FissionFission is the splitting of atomsFission is the splitting of atoms

These are usually very large, so that they are not as These are usually very large, so that they are not as

stablestable

Fission chain has three general steps:Fission chain has three general steps:

1.1. Initiation.Initiation. Reaction of a single atom starts the Reaction of a single atom starts the

chain (e.g., chain (e.g., 235235U + neutron)U + neutron)

2.2. PropagationPropagation. . 236236U fission releases neutrons U fission releases neutrons

that initiate other fissionsthat initiate other fissions

3. 3. TerminationTermination. .

Nuclear FissionNuclear Fission

Nuclear Fission

23.5

235U + 1n 90Sr + 143Xe + 31n + Energy92 54380 0

Energy = [mass 235U + mass n – (mass 90Sr + mass 143Xe + 3 x mass n )] x c2

Energy = 3.3 x 10-11J per 235U

= 2.0 x 1013 J per mole 235U

Combustion of 1 ton of coal = 5 x 107 J

Representation of a fission process.

Mass DefectMass Defect

• Some of the mass can be converted Some of the mass can be converted into energyinto energy

• Shown by a very famous equation!Shown by a very famous equation!

E=mcE=mc22

EnergyEnergy

MassMass

Speed of lightSpeed of light

Nuclear binding energy (BE) is the energy required to break up a nucleus into its component protons and neutrons.

BE + 19F 91p + 101n9 1 0

BE = 9 x (p mass) + 10 x (n mass) – 19F mass

E = mc2

BE (amu) = 9 x 1.007825 + 10 x 1.008665 – 18.9984

BE = 0.1587 amu 1 amu = 1.49 x 10-10 J

BE = 2.37 x 10-11J

binding energy per nucleon = binding energy

number of nucleons

= 2.37 x 10-11 J19 nucleons

= 1.25 x 10-12 J

23.2

Nuclear binding energy per nucleon vs Mass number

nuclear binding energynucleon

nuclear stability

23.2

Nuclear Fission

23.5

Nuclear chain reaction is a self-sustaining sequence of nuclear fission reactions.The minimum mass of fissionable material required to generate a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is the critical mass.

Non-critical

Critical

Nuclear Fusion

Fusion small nuclei combine

2H + 3H 4He + 1n +

1 1 2 0

Occurs in the sun and other stars

Energy

Nuclear Fusion

Fusion • Excessive heat can not be

contained• Attempts at “cold” fusion have

FAILED.• “Hot” fusion is difficult to contain