Name ______________________ Chemistry Honors Reading Assignment Nuclear Chemistry Read the text below.

. Use active reading strategies, including highlighting/underlining and make notes in the margins to ensure that you are processing the text and thinking critically about the content.

Since its discovery by Henri Becquerel in 1896 much has been learned about radioactive elements and their properties. This knowledge has led to many beneficial applications of the numerous radioisotopes. Did you know that some of the foods we eat have been treated by exposure to radiation? Have you ever wondered how we know the age of dinosaur bones? Have you ever known anyone who was treated for cancer with radiation therapy? Have you ever wondered how a nuclear submarine is powered? Have you ever had an x-ray to look for a broken bone or a cavity?

All of these beneficial applications are due to scientific research, discovery and development of nuclear chemistry. Although nuclear chemistry has provided numerous beneficial applications to our society there is also a dark side to nuclear chemistry that was must be aware of. The legacy that nuclear disasters such as Three Mile Island and Chernobyl have left us has brought some societies to question the continued use of nuclear energy. Why did these disasters happen? How do we protect ourselves form these types of disasters? How do we dispose of nuclear waste? Why don't we just use coal or petroleum to furnish our energy needs?

Nuclear Stability and Radioactive Decay

With a discussion of radioisotopes comes the topic of nuclear stability. The nucleus of a radioisotope is unstable. In an attempt to reach a more stable arrangement of its protons and neutrons, the nucleus will spontaneously decompose to form a different nucleus. If the number of neutrons changes in the process, a different isotopes is formed. If the number of protons changes in the process, then an atom of a different element is formed. This decomposition of the nucleus is referred to as radioactive decay. During radioactive decay an unstable nucleus spontaneously decomposes to form a different nucleus, giving off radiation in the form of atomic particles or high energy rays. This decay occurs at a constant, predictable rate that is referred to as half-life. A stable nucleus will not undergo this kind of decay and is thus non-radioactive. Why are the nuclei of radioisotopes unstable? In order to answer this question we must examine how the number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus are related to its stability and how this relates to radioactive decay.

The figure below shows a plot in which stable nuclei are positioned according to the number of protons and the number of neutrons that they contain. The stable (non-radioactive) nuclides are shown to reside in the zone of stability. Nuclei of atoms that do not contain a number of protons and neutrons that allows then to be plotted in this region are unstable and they will spontaneously decay until a nucleus is formed that does reside in this stable zone. Radioactive nuclei can undergo decomposition in a variety of ways. The spontaneous decay process can produce particles as in the case of alpha, beta, or positron emission. The alternate form of emission is that of electromagnetic radiation such as x-rays or gammarays. When alpha, beta, or positrons are emitted from the nuclei of a radioactive atom, it changes into a nucleus of another element. Scientists refer to this as transmutation. Emission of gamma rays results only in a release of energy, not in transmutation.
1. The term spontaneously is underlined in the third line of the Nuclear Stability and

Radioactive Decay section of the reading. What is meant by the term spontaneously and how does it apply to radioactive decay?

2. Why is the release of gamma radiation not considered transmutation?

3. Why does spontaneous nuclear decay occur? Refer to the data in the Belt of Stability figure.

4. What questions do you have about nuclear chemistry? (at least 2)

Modern Uses of Radioisotopes

The following isotopes are used in medical technology. Research one of the radioisotopes Report the half-life, mode of decay, beneficial uses and risks associated with the chosen isotope. a. Iodine-131 b. Cobalt-60 c. Technetium-99