Nuclear Reaction Equations

Nuclear Reaction Equations

Open Ended

What is the hardest part about nuclear equations for you?

Alpha Decay

• A large atom releases an alpha particle

• Alpha Particle - Helium - 4

   $\frac{4}{2}He$  

• The original atom loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons for a total of 4 mass

• The new element is an element that has two less protons than the original

• The mass of the new element is 4 less than the original

Beta Decay

• A neutron releases a negative charge

• An electron

• This turns it from a neutral charge to a positive charge

• A proton

• A neutron becomes a proton

•  $\frac{3}{1}H\ \rightarrow\ \frac{3}{2}He\ +\ \frac{0}{-1}e$  

Positron emission

• A proton releases a positive charge

• a positron (positive electron sized particle)

• this causes it to become a neutral charge

• a neutron

• there is one less proton in the new atom, but the same amount of mass

•  $\frac{3}{2}He\ \rightarrow\ \frac{3}{1}H\ +\ \frac{0}{+1}e$  

Electron Capture

• A nucleus absorbs a nearby electron

• this causes one if the protons in the nucleus to become a neutral charge

• a neutron

•  $\frac{11}{6}C\ +\ \frac{0}{-1}e\ \rightarrow\ \frac{11}{5}B$  

Nuclear Fusion

• Two smaller atoms make a bigger atom

•  $\frac{2}{1}H\ +\ \frac{3}{1}H\ \rightarrow\ \frac{4}{2}He\ +\frac{1}{0}n$  

Nuclear Fission

• A bigger atom breaks into smaller atoms

• Usually this happens when a nucleus is hit by a neutron

• this process generally creates two atoms that are both fairly big

• easily mistaken for alpha decay

•  $\frac{1}{0}n\ +\ \frac{235}{92}U\ \rightarrow\ \frac{92}{36}Kr\ +\ \frac{141}{56}Ba\ +\ 3\left(\frac{1}{0}n\right)$  

Multiple Choice

What symbol completes the equation below?

 $\frac{27}{12}Al\ +\ \frac{4}{2}He\ \rightarrow\ X\ \ +\ \frac{1}{0}n$  

•  $\frac{30}{14}Si$  

•  $\frac{30}{15}P$  

•  $\frac{31}{15}P$  

•  $\frac{31}{16}S$  

•  $\frac{30}{16}S$  

Multiple Choice

What symbol completes the equation below? $\frac{65}{30}Ca\ \rightarrow\ \frac{65}{29}Sc\ +\ X$  

•  $\frac{0}{-1}e$  

•  $\frac{0}{+1}e$  

•  $\frac{0}{1}H$  

•  $\frac{1}{1}H$  

Multiple Choice

 $\frac{235}{92}U\ +\ X\ \rightarrow\ \frac{95}{42}Mo\ +\ \frac{139}{50}Sc\ +\ 2\left(\frac{1}{0}n\right)$  

What completes the equation?

•  $\frac{0}{1}H$  

•  $\frac{0}{-1}e$  

•  $\frac{0}{+1}e$  

•  $\frac{1}{0}n$  

Multiple Choice

 $\frac{237}{89}Ac\ \rightarrow\ \frac{0}{-1}e\ +\ X$  

What completes the reaction?

•  $\frac{237}{90}Th$  

•  $\frac{238}{90}Th$  

•  $\frac{238}{89}Ac$  

•  $\frac{237}{91}Pa$  

Multiple Choice

 $\frac{241}{95}Am\ \rightarrow\ \frac{237}{93}Np\ +\ X$  

What symbol completes the reaction?

•  $\frac{1}{1}H$  

•  $\frac{1}{0}n$  

•  $\frac{4}{2}He$  

•  $\frac{0}{+1}e$  

Multiple Choice

 $\frac{40}{19}K\ +\ \frac{0}{-1}e\ \rightarrow\ \frac{40}{18}Ar$  

What type of reaction is shown below?

• beta decay

• alpha decay

• positron emission

• electron capture

• Nuclear fusion

Open Ended

What part of the reactions are the most difficult for you to figure out: mas s(top number), atomic number (bottom number), element name, or type of reaction?

Or any other confusing parts of the reactions?