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1 Atomic Theory, isotopes, and Radio Decay Radioactivity- The release of high energy particles and rays of energy from substance a result of changes in the nuclei of atoms Can use radioactivity to improve our lives. Such as through medical diagnosis, and treatments and by generating electricity. Natural back ground radiation- The steam of high- energy, fast- moving particles or waves that is found in the environment. y y Can turn atoms to ions. Radiation- refers to high-energy rays and particles emitted by radioactive sources. y Includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared rays, visible light, and ultraviolet rays. Light- One form of radiation that is visible to humans Searching for Invisible Rays In 1895, German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen discovered an unknown kind of energy that emitted from certain materials when he bombarded them with electrons. Called it X-ray. X stood for unknown . French physicist, Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity when he found that uranium salts emitted rays that darkened photographic plates. Chemist Marie Curie and her husband, Pierre Curie used Henri s mineral sample and isolated the components emitting rays and concluded that the darkening of the photographic plates was due to the rays emitted from the uranium atoms. Marie called this process radioactivity. y In 1898, the Curies identified 2 new elements, polonium and radium. y Henri and the Curies received a Nobel Prize in physics and also won another Nobel Prize in chemistry. Isotopes and Mass Numbers Isotopes- Different atoms of a particular element that have the same number of protons but different number of neutrons All isotopes of an element have the same atomic number (number of protons). Since the number of neutrons is different, the mass number and atomic mass differs from one isotope to the next. Mass number- an integer (whole number) that represents the sum of an atom s protons and neutrons Mass number = atomic number + number of neutrons Number of protons and neutrons y y y To find the number of neutrons of an isotope, subtract the atomic number from the mass number Number of neutrons = mass number Atomic number

y Different isotopes of the same element have the same element symbol. E.g. all isotope of potassium have symbol K, indicating the same number of protons, even though different numbers of neutrons can be found in the nucleus of different potassium isotopes. y You can use the mass number to tell different isotopes apart. Representing Isotopes Chemist represent isotopes using standard atomic notation, which is a shortened form involving the chemical symbol, atomic number, and mass number. The mass number is written as a superscript (above) on the left and the atomic number is written as a superscript (below) on the left. E.g. Potassium has three naturally occurring isotopes: potassium- 39, potassium-40 and potassium- 41

Protons (nucleus) Neutrons (nucleus) Electrons ( in shells)

Potassium-39 19 20 19

Potassium-40 19 21 19

Potassium-41 19 22 19

Nature, most elements are found as mixture of isotopes. Usually, no matter where the sample of element is taken from, the percentage of each isotope is constant. E.g. Banana, is rich source of potassium, approx. 93.26% of potassium atoms will have 20 neutrons, 0.01% will have 21 and 6.73% will have 22. Radioactive Decay Scientist discovered that by emitting radiation, atoms of one kind of element can change into atoms of another element. y Radioactive atoms emit radiation because their nuclei are unstable (likely to decay). y Unstable atoms gain stability by losing energy by emitting radiation. Radioactive decay the process in which unstable nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation Radioisotopes isotopes that are capable of radioactive decay. y Stable (not likely to decay). Unstable (will decay, therefore is radioisotope). E.g. Carbon-12 and carbon-13 are stable, while Carbon-14 is not. You have all 3 forms of carbon atoms in your body, most is carbon-12. 1 carbon atom in 1 trillion is unstable and can release radiation, this still represent a huge number of carbon-14 atoms. Three Types of Radiation Ernest Rutherford was first to discover the three most common types of radiation emitted during radioactive decay. Ernest and his colleagues placed a radioactive source in a lead block that allowed radiation to pass only through a small hole. As radiation travelled, it went through electrically charged plates that deflected any electrically charged particles y The positively charged particle deflected towards the negative plate and negatively charged particle deflected towards the positive plate. y Rutherford called these positively charged particles alpha particles and negatively charged particles, beta particles. The third type, of radiation, gamma radiation. It has no electric charge, so passed through the electric field unaffected Alpha Radiation Alpha radiation is a steam of alpha particles. y Alpha particles- positively charged atomic particles that are more massive than either beta particle or gamma radiation. Has the same combination of particles as the nucleus of a helium atom. We use symbol to represent alpha particle. or He

The symbol shows that an alpha particle has a mass number of 4 and atomic number of 2, which means that alpha particles are composed of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. Since it has 2 protons alpha particles has an electric charge of 2+. y Alpha particles are relatively slow-moving compared with other types of radiation. y Alpha particles are not very penetrating; a single sheet of paper stops alpha particles. Alpha decay- The process in which an alpha particle is emitted from the nucleus y

y y y

The nuclear reaction is balanced. The sum of the mass number and the sum of the atomic number on each side of the arrow are equal When radioactive nucleus emits alpha particle, the product nucleus has an atomic number that is lower by 2 and a mass number that is lower by 4

e.g Beta Radiation

Beta particles- is a electron. We use Symbol y

to represent a beta particle.

The mass of an electron is about 0.0005 the mass of a proton or a neutron, so the beta particle is assigned a mass number of 0 y A beta particle has a electric charge of 1y Beta particle is more penetrable then alpha particle because it is lightweight and fast-moving. A thin sheet of aluminum foil can block beta particles Beta decay- the process in which a neutron changes into a proton and an electron y y y During beta decay, the proton remain in the nucleus, and an electron are emitted from then nucleus along with energy Since the protons remain in the nucleus, the atomic number of the element increases by 1; it has become an atom of the next higher element on the periodic table. The mass number of the resulting isotope does not change because the neutron has been replaced by a proton of almost equal mass

e.g

Gamma Radiation Gamma radiation- consists of rays of high-energy, short-wavelength radiation y Gamma radiation is represented by the symbol

Gamma radiation has no mass or charge which means the release of gamma radiation does not change the atomic number or the mass number of a nucleus. y Gamma rays are the highest energy form of electromagnetic radiation and has much more energy than ultraviolet rays or X rays and are more dangerous than the other forms of electromagnetic radiation y Gamma radiation has the greatest penetrating power of the 3 types of radiation; thick blocks of dense materials, such as lead and contrete are need to stop gamma rays Gamma decay-result from a redistribution of energy within the nucleus y e.g * means that the nickel nucleus has extra energy. This extra energy is released as a gamma ray. Many kinds of radioactive decay can release gamma rays

y y

e.g y The 2 indicates that 2 gamma rays are emitted

Radiation and Radioactive Decay Summaries y Some isotope release alpha, beta and gamma radiation all at once. Alpha Radiation Beta radiation Alpha particles Helium nuclei 2+ Blocked by paper Beta particles Electron 1Blocked by metal foil or concrete Beta decay No charge Increase by 2

Gamma radiation High-energy electromagnetic radiation High energy rays 0 Partly or completely blocked by lead Gamma decay No charge No charge

Symbol Composition Description of radiation Charge Relative penetrating power

Alpha decay Particles emitted Charge in mass number of starting nucleus Change in atomic number of starting nucleus Decrease by 4 Decreasing by 2

Nuclear equations for radioactive decay Nuclear equation- a set of symbols that indicates changes in the nuclei of atoms during a nuclear reaction y y y y The symbols used in a nuclear equation include element symbols (including atomic number and mass equation number) and symbols representing neutrons and electrons Shows nuclear equation reactants on the left and products on the right Reactants and products are separated by an arrow, which means produces or changes into You can use nuclear equation to show changes in the nucleus due to radioactivity

When writing a nuclear equation, include the mass number and the atomic number of every particle and every nucleus participating in the change. The sum of the mass number does not change. Even when a neutron changes to proton and an electron or when a nucleus splits into smaller ones releasing protons or neutrons or gamma rays, the total number of protons + neutrons remains the same. The Sum of the charges in the nucleus does not change. That charge number does not change across a nuclear reaction.

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