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11 views

nuclei

Uploaded by

Abhi Shukla
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Nuclei

The unit in which atomic and nuclear masses are measured is called atomic
mass unit (amu).

One amu is defined as 1/12th of the mass of an atom of isotope.

i.e., 1 amu = 1.66×10-27 kg

Atomic masses can be measured using a mass spectrometer.

The different types of atoms of the same element which exhibit similar
chemical properties, but have different masses are called isotopes.
Isotopes are the atoms of an elements whose nuclei have the same number of
protons, but have different number of neutrons.
Isobars are the nuclei with the same mass number (A), but with different atomic
numbers.
Isotones are the atoms of different elements with the same atomic weight, but
with different atomic numbers.

Nucleus

The nucleus has the positive charge possessed by the protons. For an element of
atomic number Z, the total charge on an atomic electron is (−Ze), while the
charge of the nucleus is (+Ze).

The composition of a nucleus is described using the followings terms and


symbols:

Z = atomic number = number of protons

N = neutron number = number of neutrons

A = mass number = Z + N = total number of protons and neutrons


Nuclear Size:

Where,

R → Radius of the nucleus

R0 → Empirical constant, whose value is found to be 1.2 × 10–15 m

A → Mass number
Nuclear Binding Energy:

The nuclear mass M is always less than the total mass of its
constituents. The difference between the mass of a nucleus and its
constituents is called the mass defect.

Using Einstein’s mass–energy relation, we express this mass difference in


terms of energy as
The energy Eb represents the binding energy of the nucleus. In the mass
number range A= 30 to 170, the binding energy per nucleon is nearly
constant, about 8 MeV/nucleon.

Nuclear Forces:
Strong forces of attraction which hold together the nucleons (neutrons and protons) in
the tiny nucleus of an atom, in spite of strong electrostatic forces of repulsion between
protons

Nuclear forces are independent of charge.


Nuclear forces are the strongest forces in nature.
Nuclear forces are very short-range forces.
Nuclear forces are non-central, non-conservative forces, not obeying inverse
square law.

Law of radioactive decay:

Where, λ is the decay constant or disintegration constant

The half life of a radionuclide is the time in which N has been reduced to one-
half of its initial value. The mean life t is the time at which N has been reduced to
e–1 of its initial value.

Alpha decay:The phenomenon of emission of an a particle from a radioactive


nucleus

Beta Decay: The phenomenon of emission of an electron from a radioactive


nucleus

Gamma Decay: The phenomenon of emission of a gamma ray photon from a


radioactive nucleus
Einstein's mass-energy relation and is given as
Nuclear Fission: A reaction in which a heavy nucleus breaks into two small
nuclei with the liberation of energy is known as nuclear fission.
Example:
A continuous nuclear fission reaction is called a chain reaction.
When the fission neutrons are built up to a level and the number of fission
producing neutrons is kept constant, then it is known as controlled chain
reaction.
Nuclear reactors work on the principle of controlled chain reaction.
Critical Size: The minimum size of fissionable material required to sustain a
nuclear fission chain reaction.
Nuclear Fusion: A reaction in which two light nuclei combine to form a heavy
nulei with the liberation of energy is known as nuclear fusion.
Example:
The energy produced per unit mass in nuclear fusion is higher that that of
nuclear fission.

Radiation Hazards

Radiations are dangerous to both human health and the environment


Gamma radiations and X rays are highly penetrative and cause serious to the
DNA and may lead to cancer, genetic defects and birth defects.
UV rays cause skin burns, premature cataract and skin cancer

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