Nuclear+Chemistry

Types of Nuclear Radiation Rate of Radioactive Decay Mass Energy Relations Fission and Fusion [|Video Of Nuclear Explosion]  When a nucleus is unstable, it is able to increase its stability by changing its number of neutrons and protons. There are threee ways to do this. Alpha particles are the least penetrating of the products of nuclear decay. Beta decay involves changing a neutron into a proton and an electron and emits an electron. A beta particle is similar to an electron. In gamma radiation, there is no change and no mass transfer. Gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation and usually go along with other types of nuclear decay. They are the most penetrating of the products of nuclear decay. [|Alpha Radiation Example] [|www.imagesco.com/articles/ geiger/fig1web.jpg]
 * __Nuclear Chemistry__**
 * __Types Of Nuclear Radiation__**





==Chick here for a video from a university professor to verbally explain how the the particles work in a single and complex atoms. [] contriuted by Courtney Anderson.==

[] []  __**Rate Of Radioactive Decay**__ Radioactive decay is first order. This affects the half life. The half life of a radioactive substance is the time it takes for half of the substance to decay. So the time it takes for half the substance to decay never changes. If the first half life is three days, the second half life and third half life and so on are also three days. A radioactive substance will never fully decay. [|Radioactive Decay Example] Here is a table of the decay of the radioactive substance Uranium: []

[] Additional Rate Information  When protons and neutrons form a nucleus, the mass of the nucleus is less than its original components. The difference is called the mass defect. The mass lost is converted to energy. The relationship between mass and energy is given by Einstein's equation E=mc². Because c is such a huge number, ( 3 × 108  m/s) a small change in mass results in a large change in energy. []  __**Fission And Fusion**__ Fission splits a massive element into fragments while releasing a lot of energ in the form of heat and light. Fusion joins two light elements forming a larger element releasing energy. A binding energy per electron curve explains why both fusion and fission release energy. Here is a diagram of a fission reaction taking place. Energy is released in this reaction. []
 * __Mass Energy Relations__**

Here is a diagram of a fusion reaction taking place. As you can see, energy is also being released during this process. []

From Nate: A nucleus that is able to undergo fission is known as a fissile nucleus. Through this process, two nuclei of roughly equivalent mass are created. Neutrons are also created through fission, causing a chain reaction, in which more neutrons are released through fission than are necessary to start the process. There is a minimum mass of several pounds is required to start a chain reaction. This mass is known as critical mass, beneath which released neutrons will not hit other nuclei often enough to maintain a chain reaction. To prevent a chain reaction with a mass greater than critical mass, neutron absorbant material such as graphite can be introduced into the reaction. Fission is used most commonly to generate vast quantities of electricity extremely cheaply. The heat given off through fission is used to boil water. The steam turns turbines to produce electricity. Enriched reactors are expensive, but preferred, as the cheap "breeder reactors" produce weapons-grade plutonium as a by-product.

From Stuart: Fusion is the process where two or more elements come, or "fuse", together. These nucleus that come together are like-charge. Fusion reactions give off a lot of energy and neutrons and are called thermonuclear reactions. It is extremely difficult to get nucleus to fuse because they have a positive charge and like-charges repel. These nucleus are heated to extremely high temperatures and then slammed together at high speeds. The energy released from a nuclear reaction, such as fusion, is much greater than a chemical reaction because binding energy, energy that holds the nucleus together, is a lot greater than then energy holding an electron onto a nucleus. A fusion reaction is an exothermic reaction. The sun is a good example of a fusion reaction. The sun is a giant ball of hydrogen gas under extreme pressure. These hydrogen molecules are fused into helium and other "heavy" elements. As the combine, tremendous amounts of energy is given off in the form of heat and light. This is also the process that takes place within a hydrogen bomb.