Topic 12: Nuclear Chemistry
Why are some atomic nuclei unstable?
The strong nuclear force, which is a short-range, attractive force that acts among protons and electrons, holds nuclei together. Through this force, the nucleons are attracted to each other, and the force is much stronger than either electrical or gravitational force. A nucleus that spontaneously undergoes decay to become of a different element is unstable. There are a small amount of unstable nuclei, and while emitting electromagnetic radiation or particles, they either gain or lose protons at the same time. Binding energy, either needed to separate nucleons within a nucleus or released by nucleons combining to form nuclei, can indicate stability.
What kinds of nuclear change occur?
Radioactive elements can change air into electricity conductors. Some radioactive elements can emit alpha particles, a helium nucleus which is emitted by a radioactive isotope, and beta particles, an electron produced in a nuclear decay. Such radioactive emissions are nuclear transmutation and gamma rays. Some unstable nuclei go through nuclear fusion, where the nuclei join together to form heavier nuclei. Some unstable nuclei go through a nuclear fission, where the nuclei splits into two.
How is nuclear chemistry used?
A half-life is the time required for half of a sample of radioactive atoms to decay. Radioactive dating determines the age of an object by the use of radioactive isotopes. Half-life is used, as radioactive isotopes decay at a constant rate. Radioactive isotopes are used to determine and control the thickness of a product during its manufacture. Too much exposure to radiation is hazardous to one's health and body. People who work with radioactivity, whether in medicine or industry, should be more careful. Those people wear some devices which keeps them protected, such as a film badge, which only tells the person how much radiation exposure they had.
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Topic 11: Electrochemistry
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