TEKS

Name ___________________________ Class ________ Date ___________

Chemistry

Lesson 12A

TEKS 12ADescribe the characteristics of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.

TEKS Lesson 12A: Nuclear Radiation

What are three types of nuclear radiation?
Radiation is emitted during radioactive decay. Three types of nuclear radiation are alpha radiation, beta
radiation, and gamma radiation. The table below summarizes the characteristics of these three types of
radiation.
Characteristics of Some Types of Nuclear Radiation
Type

Consists of

Symbol

Alpha radiation

Alpha particles (helium nuclei)

Beta radiation

Beta particles (electrons)

Gamma radiation

High-energy electromagnetic
radiation

,
4
2

0
1

Charge

Mass
(amu)

2+

1/1837

Penetrating
power
Low
(0.05 mm body
tissue)
Moderate
(4 mm body
tissue)
Very high
(penetrates body
easily)

Alpha RadiationSome radioactive sources emit helium nuclei, which are also called alpha particles.
Each alpha particle contains two protons and two neutrons and has a double positive charge. The symbol
for an alpha particle is or 42 He .
The radioisotope uranium-238 emits alpha radiation and is transformed into another radioisotope,
thorium-234. When an atom loses an alpha particle, the atomic number of the product is lower by two and
its mass number is lower by four.

Because of their large mass and charge, alpha particles do not travel very far and are not very penetrating.
A sheet of paper or the surface of your skin can stop them. But radioisotopes that emit alpha particles can
cause harm when ingested. Once inside the body, the particles dont have to travel far to penetrate soft

Name ___________________________ Class ________ Date ___________

TEKS

Chemistry

Lesson 12A

tissue.
Beta RadiationAn electron resulting from the breaking apart of a neutron in an
atom is called a beta particle. The neutron breaks apart into a proton, which remains
in the nucleus, and a fast-moving electron, which is released. The symbol for a beta
particle is or 01 . Note that the symbol has a subscript of 1 and a superscript of 0.
The 1 represents the charge on the electron. The 0 represents the extremely small mass
of the electron compared to the mass of a proton.
Carbon-14 is a radioisotope. It emits a beta particle as it decays and forms nitrogen-14. When an
atom emits a beta particle, the atomic number of the product increases by 1 but the mass number
stays the same.

A beta particle has less charge than an alpha particle and much less mass than an alpha particle. Thus,
beta particles are more penetrating than alpha particles. Beta particles can pass through paper but are
stopped by aluminum foil or thin pieces of wood. Because of their opposite charges, alpha and beta
radiation can be separated by an electric field, as shown below.

Name ___________________________ Class ________ Date ___________

TEKS

Chemistry

Lesson 12A

Gamma RadiationA high-energy photon emitted by a radioisotope is called a

gamma ray ( ). The high-energy photons are a form of electromagnetic radiation.
Nuclei often emit gamma rays along with alpha or beta particles during radioactive
decay.
Gamma rays have no mass and no electrical charge. So the emission of gamma
radiation does not alter the atomic number or mass number of an atom. Because
gamma rays are extremely penetrating, they can be very dangerous. For example,
gamma rays pass easily through paper, wood, and the human body. They can be
stopped, although not completely, by several meters of concrete or several centimeters
of lead, as shown below.

Name ___________________________ Class ________ Date ___________

TEKS

Chemistry

Lesson 12A

Lesson Check
1. DescribeDescribe the characteristics of alpha radiation.
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2. DescribeDescribe the characteristics of beta radiation
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3. DescribeDescribe the characteristics of gamma radiation.
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4. ReviewIn the table below, each row lists information about one type of nuclear radiation. Complete
the table by filling in the missing information in each row.

Type
Alpha particle

Symbol
,

Charge

Mass (amu)

1/1837

Relative penetrating power

(low, moderate, high)

4
2

5. Apply ConceptsHow can an electric field be used to separate alpha radiation and beta radiation

Name ___________________________ Class ________ Date ___________

TEKS

Chemistry

Lesson 12A

emitted by the same radioactive source?

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6. IdentifyWhich of the three types of radiation described in this lesson is the most penetrating,
and why?
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7. Compare and ContrastHow is the atomic number of a nucleus changed by alpha decay? By beta
decay? By gamma decay?
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