Nuclear Chemistry: Types, Nuclear Fission & Fusion & Applications

Nuclear Chemistry is defined as the study of the physical and chemical properties of elements that are involved in nuclear reactions. These types of reactions take place inside a nucleus.                                                                                                  

• In modern scenarios, nuclear chemistry is popular with the name radiochemistry.
• Nuclear Chemistry also handles the amount of energy released during nuclear reactions.
• The radioactive elements involved in the process include actinides, radium and radon.
• It checks for the nature of objects placed in a nuclear disposal site.
• Otto Hanhn is regarded as the father of the nuclear chemistry.
• Hahn and his partner, Lise Meter, discovered radioactive isotopes of radium, thorium, and uranium.
• Nuclear chemistry has shown significant potential in anything from nuclear power generation to war damage.
• Applications of nuclear chemistry include nuclear imaging and the generation of power.

Key Terms: Nuclear Chemistry, Nuclear Fusion, Nuclear Fission, Atom, Nucleus, Radiations, Isotopes, Nuclear Reaction, Radium, Molecules

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What is Nuclear Chemistry?

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Nuclear Chemistry is the study of processes involving changes in nuclear structure. The basic idea of the nuclear structure was introduced in the sections on atoms, molecules, and ions, which stated that an atom's nucleus comprises of protons and neutrons (except for H). 

Nuclear chemistry, often known as radiochemistry, is the study of the elements that make up the cosmos. It helps in the design and production of radioactive medications for medical applications.

• The process involves the corrosion of surfaces under normal and abnormal operations.
• Scientists work to improve the efficiency and safety of nuclear power sources.
• The term nuclide is used to refer to a single type of nucleus.
• Nuclear reactions provide nuclear power and radioactivity.
• The energy generated by these processes has a wide range of applications.

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Nuclear Radiations

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Nuclear Radiation is the term used to study about the photons and particles emitted during nuclear reactions. The energy of the particles emitted in nuclear reactions is high enough to knock electrons out of atoms and molecules, causing them to ionize. 

• Nuclear radiation is sometimes known as ionizing radiation because of the ionizing of electrons from atoms.
• The concept of nuclear radiation was provided by Rutherford in 1902.
• It is the combination of particles and electromagnetic rays, whose main source is an atomic nucleus. 
• In radiation, isotopes have different numbers of neutrons. 
• Alpha, beta, and gamma rays are all types of nuclear radiation. 
• Ionizing subatomic particles such as alpha particles, neutrons, beta particles, mesons, muons, positrons, and cosmic rays are released during nuclear processes.
• Uranium 238 undergoes alpha decay in order to become stable.

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Types of Radiations

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Nuclear Radiation is divided into three categories which are as follows:

Alpha Radiation

Alpha Radiation is the process of emission of high-energy/high-speed alpha particles when an atom goes through the radioactive decay. The alpha decay is the process of producing alpha particles. 

• Alpha particles are made up of two protons and two neutrons bonded together to form a helium nucleus-like particle. 
• The alpha particle is a big particle with a double positive charge. 
• They aren't very strong and can be stopped with a piece of paper. 
• They merely move a few centimetres but concentrate all their energy along their narrow pathways.

The chemical reaction involved in the process is as follows:   ²³⁸₉₂U → ^234₉₀Th + ⁴₂He

Beta radiation

Beta radiation is made up of relativistic free electrons or positrons. The size of beta particles (electrons) is significantly less than that of alpha particles. They have only one negative charge. 

• This form of radiation is more penetrating than alpha particles; however, they can be stopped by thin aluminium metal.
• They can traverse several meters yet deposit less energy at each point along their pathways than alpha particles.
• Beta Radiation is divided into two categories: beta plus and beta minus.
• In beta plus, the nucleus will emit a positive charge positron and proton.
• The proton is converted into a neutrino.
• In beta minus, the nucleus emits a neutron, which is transformed into an antineutrino and an electron.

                                                                Beta minus decay: ¹n → ¹p⁺ + ⁰_-1β^– + v̅

                                                                Beta plus decay: ¹₁p+ → ¹₀n + ⁰₁β + v

                                                                                                                    ¹²₇N ⟶ ₆¹²C + ⁰₁β⁺

Gamma Radiation

Gamma radiation does not contain any form of particles. Instead, photons of energy are emitted from a radioactive nucleus that is unstable. 

• Gamma rays are short-wavelength electromagnetic radiations with no charge or mass. 
• It follows other radioactive emissions as it represents the energy loss that occurs when the surviving nucleons undergo stable rearrangements.

The chemical reaction involved in the process is as follows:   ²³⁸₉₂U → ^234₉₀Th + ⁴₂He + 2⁰₀γ

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Nuclear Fission

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Nuclear fission is defined as splitting a heavy atom, such as uranium–235, into several much smaller fragments by subatomic particle bombardment. The process will release a large quantity of energy.

• When uranium-235 is attacked with neutrons, it divides into two relatively lighter elements, according to Hahn and Statesman.
• With each generation of events, the fission rate increases geometrically.
• The most common example of nuclear fission is the division of the nucleus.
• In this case, more than one neutron will be released.
• This neutron will collide with neighbouring nuclei and cause a series of self-sustaining nuclear fission reactions.

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Nuclear Fusion

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Nuclear fusion is defined as a process in which lighter nuclei fuse to generate a heavier nucleus, in contrast to nuclear fission. However, such processes can only occur at respectable rates of temperatures of several million degrees.

• This form of reaction takes place inside the interiors of stars.
• Thermonuclear reactions are the name given to such processes (temperature-dependent reactions).
• Once a fusion reaction starts, the energy released in the process is enough to keep the temperature constant and the process running.
• The most common example of nuclear fusion includes Deuterium-deuterium (D-D) fusion and deuterium-tritium (D-T).

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Applications of Nuclear Chemistry

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Following are the Applications of Nuclear Chemistry:

• Nuclear waste is radioactive waste, which comes from the by-products of nuclear processes in medical and scientific applications.
• A nuclear reactor is a device that generates nuclear reactions and controls the chain reaction to release a significant amount of energy.
• The term "nuclear weapon" refers to a device that uses a nuclear reaction for destructive purposes.
• The procedure of establishing the age of a sample by comparing the quantity of C-14 left to the known half-life of 5,730 years is known as radiocarbon dating.
• Radiocarbon Dating works because organisms that are living regularly renew their C-14 supply through respiration.
• MRI scans, CT scans, and X-rays are used for diagnosis in the hospitals.
• In space missions, radioisotope thermal generators are used to generate electricity.
• Food is irradiated with gamma rays to keep it fresh and extend its shelf life.
• Cancer patients are treated with radioactive iodine.
• Medical instruments are sterilized by the process of nuclear reactions.

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Things To Remember

• Nucleons are protons and neutrons that reside in the nucleus, and nuclear forces are the forces that bind them together.
• According to studies, one gramme of radioactive carbon releases roughly 12 b-particles every minute on average.
• These numbers are known as magic numbers because nuclei with 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, and 126 protons or neutrons are stable.
• Even-numbered p+ and n° nuclei are often more stable than odd-numbered nuclei.
• In space missions, radioisotope thermal generators are used to generate electricity.

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