Nuclear Reaction

Nuclear reactions take place at the level of the nucleus, which is very
tightly held together. The bonds that unite the nucleus's particles are
considerably stronger than those keeping electrons on their orbit.
Breaking apart the nuclei of a gram of uranium releases one million
times more energy than burning one gram of fossil fuel in a chemical
reaction.
Nuclear fusion and fission
Nuclear fusion is a process in which two or more light nuclei fuse or
combine to form a heavier nucleus with a release of energy and
radiation.
Nuclear fusion occurs when two light nuclei of hydrogen fuse to form
helium, a two-proton element. This is the reaction that keeps our sun
shining. Humans have achieved nuclear fusion with hydrogen bombs
and are attempting to recreate it in a controlled fashion through the
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project.
Hydrogen nuclei are positively charged and repel each other. The closer
the particles come, the greater is the force of repulsion. In order for
fusion reactions to occur, the hydrogen nuclei must have extremely high
kinetic energies so the velocities can overcome the forces of repulsion.
These kinetic energies only occur at extreme temperatures such as those
that occur in the cores of the sun and other stars.

The energy that comes from the sun and

other stars is produced by fusion.
• Fission and Chain Reactions
In both fission and fusion, large amounts of energy are given off in
the form of heat, light, and gamma radiation. Nuclear fission was
discovered in the late 1930s when U-235 nuclides were bombarded
with neutrons and were observed to split into two smaller-mass
nuclei.

The products shown are only one of many sets of products from the
disintegration of a U-235 nucleus. Over 35 different elements have
been observed in the fission products of U-235.
When a neutron strikes a U-235 nucleus and the nucleus captures a
neutron, it undergoes fission producing two lighter nuclei and three free
neutrons.
..\Desktop\Chemistry\Chemistry Slides\Nuclear Fusion - Fusion energy e
xplained with Hydrogen atom example - Physics animation video.mp4
..\Desktop\Chemistry\Chemistry Slides\Fission and Fusion.mp4

Radioactivity
Definition: Radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of radiation by
an element. Such an element is called a radioactive element.
Types of Radioactive Decay
In natural radioactive decay, three common emissions occur. When
these emissions were originally observed, scientists were unable to
identify them as some already known particle and so named them alpha
particles (α), beta particles (β), and gamma rays (γ) using the first three
letters of the Greek alphabet. Some later time, alpha particles were
identified as helium-4 nuclei, beta particles were identified as electrons,
and gamma rays as a form of electromagnetic radiation like x-rays except
much higher in energy and even more dangerous to living systems.
• Alpha-rays
α-rays are fast-moving streams of positively charged particles, each
having a mass number of 4, an atomic number of 2 and 2 units of
positive charge. Thus, each α-particle is actually a helium nucleus,
Α particles are deflected slightly towards the negative plate in an
electrostatic field as they are positively charged.
The nuclear disintegration process that emits alpha particles is
called alpha decay. An example of a nucleus that undergoes alpha
decay is uranium-238. The alpha decay of U-238 is

In this nuclear change, the uranium atom ( transmutated into an

atom of thorium ( and, in the process, gave off an alpha particle.
Look at the symbol for the alpha particle: .
α-rays have very low penetrating power. They travel only a few
centimeters in air and are stopped or absorbed by a thin sheet of
paper or an aluminum foil of only 0.1mm thick.
• Beta-rays
β-rays are very fast-moving streams of electrons. They are deflected
towards the positive plate in an electrostatic field as they are
negatively charged and have relatively small masses. Each particle has
a mass of zero and a charge of -1 and is represented by the symbol .
Thorium-234 is a nucleus that undergoes beta decay. Here is the
nuclear equation for this beta decay.

Note that both the mass numbers and the atomic numbers add up
properly: mass number: 234 = 0 + 234
atomic number: 90= -1 + 91
The mass numbers of the original nucleus and the new nucleus are
the same because a neutron has been lost, but a proton has been
gained and so the sum of protons plus neutrons remains the same.
β-rays are much more penetrating than α-rays. Their range is about
3m in air, and about 4mm in aluminum or wood.

• Gamma-rays
γ-rays are not particles but electromagnetic waves similar to visible
light and X-rays, but with very short wavelengths. They travel at the
speed of light, and are unaffected by electrostatic field. Of the three
types of radioactive emissions, γ-rays have the least ionization power
but they are the most penetrating.
Frequently, gamma ray production accompanies nuclear reactions of all
types. In the alpha decay of U-238, two gamma rays of different
energies are emitted in addition to the alpha particle.

They can penetrate about 100m through air and can pass through 0.5m
of iron or lead. They can also cause fluorescence in certain substances
like sodium iodide and zinc sulphide.
• READ ON DEVICES USED IN DETECTING RADIATION
• EFFECTS OF RADIOACTIVITY
Exposure to radioactive radiations has harmful physiological
effects, especially since some of these effects are cumulative.
Anaemia, cancer, especially leukaemia, and genetic mutations
are common in these cases. Death usually results from heavier
doses.
• USES OF RADIOACITY
1. γ-radiation can be used to destroy cancerous growth.
2. γ-radiation is used for sterilizing the surgical equipment.
3. For Agricultural purposes.
4. For industrial use.
5. As Radioactive tracers.
6. Used in Mass spectrometer.