Nuclear Decay

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Nuclear Decay

• B5

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Radioactive Decay

• When the nucleus of an atom breaks down to form a
  different element

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Nuclear decay

• Is a form of Ionizing radiation
• Emitted particles particles given off by the
  nucleus of atom
• As a result the nucleus
  of the atom is changed
  into a new atom

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Ernest Rutherford

• He found that there were 3 types of radiation /
  decay
• Alpha
• Beta
• Gamma

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Decay type charge and Greek symbol
Radiation Type Charge Greek Symbol
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
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Alpha Radiation

• made of two protons and two neutrons
• Low energy and large molecule
• Penetrating power Stopped by paper
• Inside the body however very powerful
  tissue-damaging agents

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Beta radiation

• Made of an electron
• 0-1e
• High energy, very small (negligible mass)
• Penetrating power Stopped by aluminum

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Gamma radiation

• Made of Pure Energy
• 0?
• Extremely high energymost dangerous radiation
• Penetrating power Stopped by several centimeters
  of lead or concrete

0
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Penetrating powers
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Review

• Atomic number (Z)number of protons in nucleus
• Mass number (A)number of protons number of
  neutrons
• atomic number (Z)
  number of neutrons

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Balancing a nuclear decay reaction

• Key to balancing nuclear equations is both
  atomic numbers and mass numbers are conserved!
• Reactant Side ?Product Side
• Sum of Mass Sum of Mass
• Sum of Atomic Sum of Atomic

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Practice
Compound undergoes alpha and gamma decay
Compound undergoes beta decay