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Lesson 2_Formation of the Elements and Nuclear Reactions

The document discusses the formation of elements through nuclear reactions, including processes like the proton-proton chain, triple alpha process, and the CNO cycle. It explains how heavier elements are formed during supernova explosions and details neutron capture processes. Additionally, it covers nuclear fission, transmutation, and synthetic elements, emphasizing the role of nuclear reactions in the creation of elements and energy release.

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maylin Cosme
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2 views

Lesson 2_Formation of the Elements and Nuclear Reactions

The document discusses the formation of elements through nuclear reactions, including processes like the proton-proton chain, triple alpha process, and the CNO cycle. It explains how heavier elements are formed during supernova explosions and details neutron capture processes. Additionally, it covers nuclear fission, transmutation, and synthetic elements, emphasizing the role of nuclear reactions in the creation of elements and energy release.

Uploaded by

maylin Cosme
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Formation of the Elements

and Nuclear Reactions


Elements are Formed in Different Ways in
our Universe
Origin of Heavier Elements
Proton-proton chain reaction - nuclear fusion
reactions by which stars convert hydrogen to
helium.
Triple Alpha Process
• A thermonuclear fusion
reaction in which three
alpha particles
(helium-4) fuse to form a
carbon nucleus, thereby
releasing energy.
Carbon-Nitrogen-Oxygen (CNO) Cycle
•Carbon Fusion Cycle or
CNO Cycle – where
C-12 is used as a catalyst
that facilitate the
production of He-4. CNO
Cycle is a process that
involves repeated
proton capture (releases
gamma radiation) and
beta plus decay
(releases positron and
neutrino).
Alpha Ladder
• Nuclear fusion that
happens in red super giant
star and creates heavier
element such as Iron.
Elements Heavier than Iron
• A star will eventually be
unable to generate energy to
push against gravity due to
the formation of heavier
elements, thus causing it to
collapse on itself. It then
undergoes a supernova
explosion that releases a
tremendous amount of
energy enough to synthesize
elements heavier than iron.
• Supernova nucleosynthesis of
heavier nuclei happens via
neutron capture process.
Neutron Capture
Process
•
S-PROCESS / SLOW NEUTRON R-PROCESS / RAPID NEUTRON
CAPTURE CAPTURE

• Neutron capture occurs • Neutron capture occurs


slower than beta decay. faster than beta decay.
• Happens when there is a • means that there is faster
slow rate of capturing rate of capturing neutron
neutron while there is a before it undergoes
faster rate of radioactive radioactive decay thus,
decay. more neutrons can be
combined at the nucleus.
• All the way to Uranium.
• Works up to Bismuth.
4
2
α
0
-1
β
γ
0
1
β
Nuclear Fusion
• Smaller nuclei collide
together to make larger
nuclei, and energy is
released in the form of
electromagnetic radiation.
• Requires extremely high
temperatures and
pressures beyond those
found on or within Earth.
A summary…
(You are made of stardust from exploded stars)
Nuclear Fission
• Elements can also form when a large, unstable nucleus breaks apart in
an attempt to achieve a more stable, lower energy state.
• The splitting of a nucleus to form two or more smaller, more stable
nuclei is called nuclear fission. (fission = split)
• Fission may occur spontaneously (without energy being added) or it
may be prompted by firing a nuclear bullet (like a proton or neutron) at
an unstable nucleus, as seen in the example below.
• Like fusion, fission also releases energy stored in the nucleus of an atom.
However, not as much energy is released from fission as from fusion.

Nuclear
bullet
Nuclear Fission
• Fission of uranium-235 atoms is used in nuclear power plants to produce
energy.
• Fission also occurs naturally within the layers of the earth as radioactive
elements in rocks spontaneously decay to more stable elements,
creating a natural source of heat within the earth.
• You also contain a small proportion of radioactive isotopes within your
body. These isotopes decay naturally, releasing radiation. Therefore, you
are slightly radioactive too! So is the banana you ate for breakfast!

Nuclear
bullet
Nuclear Reactions can be Represented by
Nuclear Equations
• Fusion
Making a larger
nucleus from two or
more smaller nuclei

• Fission
Making two or more
smaller nuclei from
a larger nucleus
Important Symbols Used in Nuclear Equations
• To write a nuclear
reaction, you Particle How written in a nuclear reaction
must remember Proton 1 1
how to read and p or H
use isotope 1 1
symbol notation Neutron 1
n
0
Electron 0 0
(Beta particle) e or β
-1 -1
• You must know
Alpha Particle 4 4
the symbols used (Helium nuclei) α or He
for various 2 2
subatomic
particles like Gamma Particle or γ
Ray (a massless packet of pure electromagnetic
protons,
neutrons, etc. radiation, a form of energy)
Balancing Nuclear Reactions
Check the math on
these examples of
nuclear equations to
238
U see if the sums of the
92
mass numbers and
the atomic numbers
32
P are the same on each
15
side of the
equations.
10
5
B Can you figure out
which equations are
fission and which are
fusion?
Transmutation
Transmutation is a general term for the changing of chemical
element or isotope to another by changing the number of
protons and/or neutrons. Fusion and fission reactions both
qualify as transmutations. The bombardment of a nucleus by
a nuclear bullet in order to change it into another element
also counts as transmutation.
Synthetic Elements
• Elements with atomic numbers Z ≥
93 are synthetic (man-made)
• These elements have been made in
particle accelerators, either by
smashing smaller nuclei together
or else by shooting nuclear bullets
at large nuclei.
• These elements are all radioactive.
They decay over time to more
stable elements, releasing radiation
(particles and energy) from their
nuclei. Some have very short
half-lives and have only existed for
fractions of a second.
• Some synthetic elements have
uses for mankind. Americium (Am)
is used in smoke detectors. Others
have no current use but were made
during basic research to better
understand atomic nuclei and the
forces that hold them together.
The heaviest synthetic element has
an atomic number of 118. It has no
uses at present.

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