Nuclear Particles and Nuclear Equations
- Write the symbol for the following items.
a. alpha particle:
b. beta particle (electron):
c. neutron:
d. positron:
e. gamma ray:
f. proton:
- Rank beta, alpha, and gamma radiation from most penetrating to least penetrating.
- Carefully read the information below and fill in the chart that follows.
Example of a nuclear reaction: + + energy released: 1.7 X 109 kilojoules
Example of a chemical reaction: 2 H2 + O2 2 H2O energy released: 572 kilojoules
Use the information above to compare nuclear and chemical reactions as you fill in the chart.
NUCLEAR REACTION / CHEMICAL REACTION1 / When you “balance” these reactions, what do you count?
2 / How does the energy released compare?
3 / How do the elements before and after compare?
4 / Where does the energy released come from?
- Write nuclear reactions for the following processes.
- alpha decay of radon-198
- beta decay of uranium-237
- positron emission of silicon-26
- sodium-22 undergoes electron capture
- alpha decay of polonium-218
- beta decay of lead-210
- Complete the following nuclear equations.
- boron-10 plus a neutron results in the formation of another element and the release of an alpha particle
- beryllium-9 plus a proton results in the formation of another element and the release of an alpha particle
- einsteinium-253 plus an alpha particle results in the formation of another element and the release of a neutron
- lithium-7 plus a proton results in the formation of another element and the release of a neutron
- argon-40 plus an alpha particle produces another element and the release of a neutron
- plutonium-241 plus another particle results in the formation of plutonium-242 and a gamma ray
- Complete the following nuclear equations.
a. + + _____
b. + _____
c. + + _____
d. + _____
e. + _____ + 3
- Write a balanced nuclear equation for the beta decay of iodine-131.
a. For an atom of iodine-131 (reactant): how many protons? _____ how many neutrons?______
b. For the products of the decay of iodine-131: how many protons? ______how many neutrons? ______
c. Compare the number of protons and neutrons before and after the nuclear reaction for the beta decay of iodine-131. What happens in beta decay?
- Write a balanced nuclear equation for the positron decay of sodium-22.
a. For an atom of sodium-22 (reactant): how many protons? _____ how many neutrons?______
b. For the products of the positron decay of sodium-22: how many protons? ______how many neutrons? ______
c. Compare the number of protons and neutrons before and after the nuclear reaction for the positron decay of sodium-22. What happens in positron decay?