Isotopes & Radioactivity

Do Now: Brain Pop Video on Isotopes &

Radioactivity
As you are both watching and listening to the video, answer the
3 following questions:
1. How are isotopes of an element similar?
2. How are isotopes of an element different?
3. What causes a nucleus to become unstable?

Isotopes
The identity of an element is defined by its number of _________.
protons
For example, every atom of Carbon has ___
6 protons and only
Carbon
atoms with 6 protons are __________.
However, atoms of the
same element can have __________
different number of neutrons. When
atoms of the same element have different numbers of neutrons
they are called __________.
isotopes Since the mass of an atom is
determined by the total number of protons and neutrons, isotopes
of the same element will have different __________
masses despite
same numbers of protons. Also, isotopes of the
having the _________
chemical behavior. This is
same element will have similar _____________
reactivity is based on the number of
because chemical _____________
____,
no
e- and isotopes only have different numbers of ____.

Sample Problem
Sample Problem: Show mathematically that 1H, 2H and 3H are isotopes of
Hydrogen. Write the full atomic notation for each of the three isotopes of Hydrogen
and show why they are isotopes by listing the number p+, e-, and n0 for each.

1
1

p+ = e- = 1
no = 0

2
1

p+ = e - = 1
no = 1

3
1

p+ = e- = 1
no = 2

Nuclear Stability
gravity and ____________________
electromagnetic forces which
Unlike ___________
can have large effects over large distances, the nuclear
__________
strong and _________
weak force operate over extremely short
distances in the nucleus. The strong force and weak force hold p +
and no together in the nucleus in a _________
1 1.5 ratio which is a
stable range. Unstable nuclei are ___________________
and
radioactive

stable
can give off several types of radiation to become more ________.

Types of Radiation
4

Heavy, slow, 2+
charge, same as
a Helium nucleus

Paper
Skin

Fast electron

Lead
Extremely energetic
electromagnetic radiation

Metal

PAPER
SKIN

METAL
LEAD

If
ingested
Can
penetrate
skin
mutates
DNA

Types of Radiation

Chemical vs. Nuclear Changes

While chemical changes can break compounds into their more
basic elements or create more complicated molecules out of
simpler elements, in nuclear changes like radioactive __________
decay
nuclei actually change into different more stable _____________.
elements
Also, nuclear changes release much ____________
amounts of
greater
energy than ___________
chemical changes.

Class Work
1. Student 1 and Student 2, independently answer
your assigned question on your mini white board.
-There are several colored expo markers at your station
-Take out your Periodic Table!
-Calculators are at your stations should you need it.

2. Turn to your partner and share! Describe the

step by step process you took getting to your
answer.

Student A Questions

Student B Questions