Nuclear Particles and Nuclear Equations

  1. Write the symbol for the following items.

a. alpha particle:

b. beta particle (electron):

c. neutron:

d. positron:

e. gamma ray:

f. proton:

  1. Rank beta, alpha, and gamma radiation from most penetrating to least penetrating.
  1. 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 REACTION
1 / 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?
  1. Write nuclear reactions for the following processes.
  1. alpha decay of radon-198
  1. beta decay of uranium-237
  1. positron emission of silicon-26
  1. sodium-22 undergoes electron capture
  1. alpha decay of polonium-218
  1. beta decay of lead-210
  1. Complete the following nuclear equations.
  1. boron-10 plus a neutron results in the formation of another element and the release of an alpha particle
  1. beryllium-9 plus a proton results in the formation of another element and the release of an alpha particle
  1. einsteinium-253 plus an alpha particle results in the formation of another element and the release of a neutron
  1. lithium-7 plus a proton results in the formation of another element and the release of a neutron
  1. argon-40 plus an alpha particle produces another element and the release of a neutron
  1. plutonium-241 plus another particle results in the formation of plutonium-242 and a gamma ray
  1. Complete the following nuclear equations.

a. +  + _____

b. + _____ 

c. +  + _____

d.  + _____

e.  + _____ + 3

  1. 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?

  1. 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?