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Nuclear Chemistry
Radioactivity
Radioactivity was first developed by Henry Bacquerel.
It is defined as spontaneous and an irreversible self-disintegration activity in which one nucleus is changed into
another form by radiation.
There are two types of radioactivity
(1) Natural radioactivity (2) Artificial radioactivity
Natural Radioactivity
There are large number of elements such as uranium, polonium, radium which undergo spontaneous change with
emission of different types of radiation. This process of self-disintegration of nucleus is called natural radioactivity.
Generally, nucleus of heavy elements undergoes natural disintegration.
Types of Natural Radiation
Rutherford and co-workers passed the radiation produced from radioactive substance through a strong electric
field between parallel plates. Three types of radiation were observed in photographic plates. They are named Alfa
(𝛼) rays, Beta (𝛽) rays and Gamma (𝛾) rays.

+ve electric field

 rays

 rays

Radio active substance  rays

-ve electric field

1. Alpha (𝜶) rays: - Those rays which are deflected towards negative field of electric field are 𝛼-ray. They consist
of a nucleus of Helium(2H4). So, it is the flow of positive charge particles.
When a nucleus emits 𝛼 -ray, it is changed into new nuclei of 4 units lesser in mass number and 2 units lesser
in atomic number. Example-
212 208
84Po 82Pb + 𝛼-ray (2He4)
Properties of 𝜶 –rays
(i) It carries a 2-unit positive charge and 4-unit mass.
(ii) It is denoted by the symbol ∝ or He2+.
(iii) Its velocity is about 1.4 x 109 to 1.7 x 109 cm/s or 1/10th to 1/20th of that of light.
(iv) Its ionization power is very high.
(v) Its penetrating power is very low.
(vi) Its kinetic energy is very high.
2. Beta (𝜷) rays: - Those rays which are deflected towards the positive part of electric field are 𝛽-rays. They are
negatively charged and considered as flow of electron like particles.
When 𝛽-particle is emitted, nucleus is converted into new nucleus having same mass number but one-unit
high atomic number.
239 239
92U 93Np +𝛽
Properties of 𝜷-rays
(i) It carries 1-unit negative charge and no mass.
(ii) It is denoted by the symbol 𝛽 or e-10.
(iii) Its velocity is about 2.36 to 2.83 x 1010 cm/s or nearly 3% to 99% of that of light.
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(iv) Its ionization power is very low.

(v) Its penetrating power is low.
(vi) Its kinetic energy is low.
3. Gamma (𝜸)-rays: - Those rays which are not deflected by electric field are 𝛾-rays. They are electromagnetic
radiation which does not possess any charge and mass.
Properties of 𝜸 – rays
(i) It is electromagnetic rays that have very short wavelengths.
(ii) Its velocity is equal to the velocity of light i.e. 3 x 1010 cm/s.
(iii) Its ionization power is very low.
(iv) Its penetrating power is very high.
(v) Its kinetic energy is negligible.
Artificial Radioactivity
The process by which an element gets converted into new element by bombarding it with high energy particles is
called artificial or induced radioactivity. Example- nitrogen 7N14 is converted to oxygen 8O17 by bombarding with
𝛼-particle. (by Rutherford)
14 4 17 1
7N + 2He 8O + 1H

𝛼-particle
By Chadwick
9 4 12 1
4Be + 2He 6C + 0n (neutron)

𝛼-particle
Units of Radioactivity
Curie and Rutherford are the units of radioactivity.
1C = 3.7 × 104 Rd is the relationship between Curie and Rutherford.

Nuclear Reactions
The type of reaction in which nuclei can be converted into new nuclei. Example-
14 4 17 1
7N + 2He 8O + 1H

𝛼-particle proton
Target nucleus: - The nucleus in which bombardment takes place.
Recoil nucleus: - The nucleus which is produced by nuclear reaction i.e.product.
Projectile: - Particle used for bombardment is called projectile.
Ejectile:- The small particle which is ejected.
24 4 27 1
12Mg + 2He 14Si + 0n

(Target nucleus) (projectile) (recoil nucleus ) ( ejectile )

Types of nuclear reaction
On the basis of change in energy in nuclear reaction, there are two types of nuclear reaction.
1. Nuclear fission reaction: - Nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits into two or more lighter nuclei of
nearly equal size is called nuclear fission reaction. Here huge amounts of energy are liberated.
235
92U + 0n1 56Ba
144
+ 36Kr90 20n1 + energy
There are two types of nuclear fission reaction
a) Controlled nuclear reaction: - Here the speed of neutrons is decreased by graphite or heavy water(moderator)
and further fission takes place in controlled rate.
b) Uncontrolled nuclear fission: - Here neutron is released from reaction further strike to nuclei to cause more
fission until whole uranium get finished.
2. Nuclear fusion reaction: - Nuclear reaction in which two lighter nuclei combine with each other to give stable
nucleus with higher mass is called nuclear fusion. Here, large amounts of energy is liberated.
2
1H + 1H3 2He
4
+ 0n1 + energy
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Difference between Nuclear reaction and Chemical reaction: -

Chemical reaction Nuclear reaction
1. The valence shell electron participates. 1. The proton and neutron participates.
2. no new elements are formed. 2.New elements are formed.
3.Isotope react in similar manner 3.Isotope react differently
4.The energy produced is low. The energy change is very high.
5.The rate is affected by temp. and pressure. 5. Not affected by temp. and pressure.
6. large amount of energy is released due to 6. Small amount of energy is released but
Loss in mass. Mass remains same.

Difference between Nuclear fission and Nuclear fusion: -

Nuclear fission Nuclear fusion
1.The splitting of heavy nucleus on bombardment
1.The fusing of two or more lighter nuclei to
of neutron into two or form a single heavier nucleus with the
more lighter nuclei with the release of release of extremely huge amount of
huge amount of of energy is called energy is called nuclear fusion.
nuclear fissionS.
2. it does not occur in nature. 2.It occurs in stars like sun.
3.it can produce many radioactive nuclei. 3.it can produce few radioactive nuclei.
4.The energy released is less than fusion. 4.The energy released is more than fission.
5. it is a chain reaction. 5. it is not a chain reaction.
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Industrial uses of Radioactivity:-

in industry, radioisotopes are primarily used as "tracers" to monitor fluid flow, detect leaks, gauge thickness of
materials, assess wear and corrosion in machinery, and perform non-destructive testing for quality control,
all by utilizing their radioactive properties to track movement and identify potential issues within a system or
product.
Medical uses of Radioactivity:-
1. Iodine-31 is commonly used to treat thyroid cancer. It is also used to treat malignant thyroid disorder.
2. Iridium-192 is used in the treatment of breast and head.
3. Technetium-99 is used in nuclear medical scan.
4. Sodium-24 is used to know the amount of blood in a patient in anemia.
5. Cobalt-60 is used in the treatment of blood cancer.
6. Sulphur-35 and phosphorous-32 are used to know the healing of fractured bones.
Radiocarbon dating:-
Willard libby developed the technique of determining the age of carbon bearing materials by caarbon-14 (
half life=5760 years) . he was awarded the Nobel prize in 1960 A.D. carbon -14 is produced by the
bombardment of nitrogen atoms present in the upper atmosphere with neutrons (cosmic rays)
14 1 14 1
7N + 0n 6C + 1H

Thus carbon -14 is oxidized to CO2 and eventually ingested by plants and animals. The death of plants and animals
puts an end to the intake of carbon -14 from the atmosphere. After this the amount of carbon-14 in the dead
tissues starts decreasing due to its disintegration
14 14 0
6C 7C + -1e

It has been estimated that on an average, one gram of radioactive carbon emits about 12 beta particles per
minutes. Thus by knowing either the amount of C-14 or the number of beta particles emitted per minute per
gram of carbon in the initial and present stages, the age of carbon materials can be determined by using
formula as-
‫ = ג‬2.303/t log N0/Nt
Where, ‫ = ג‬Decay constant
t = age of the fossil
N0= Radioactivity in fresh wood due to C-14
Nt= Radioactivity in old wood due to C-14
The historic and archeological samples have been dated by the radiocarbon techniques.
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Harmful effects of nuclear radiation:-

1. Exposure of radiations damages the skin and leads to skin cancer.
2. Excessive radiations can damage tissues by changine cell structures and damaging DNA.
3. It leads to acute radiation syndrome.
4. The high level exposure to radiations result cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Important questions
1. What do you mean by radioactivity?
2. What is the role of heavy water in a nuclear reaction?
3. What is meant by projectile?
4. Differentiate between nuclear reaction and chemical reaction.
5. What are radioactive radiations? Name some of them.
6. What is nuclear fusion reaction? How do nuclear fusion reactions differ from nuclear fission ractions?
7. What are the properties of 𝛼-rays?
8. How do natural radioactivity is differ from artificial radioactivity?
9. What are radioisotopes? Give one example.
10. What kinds of elementary particles used in artificial transmutation of elements?