Nuclear Bombardment and Induced Radioactivity

In ordinary chemical reactions the chemical properties of an element depend only on the electrons outside the nucleus, and the properties are essentially the same for all isotopes of the element. The nuclear properties of the various isotopes of an element are quite different, however. In the radioactive decay series beginning with uranium-238, goTh emits a j8-particle, whereas a bit farther down the line loTh ejects an a-particle. Both Ph and g Pb are j8-particle emitters toward the end of the series, while the final product, gfPb, has a stable nucleus, emitting neither alpha nor beta particles nor gamma rays. 

Radioactivity is independent of the state of chemical combination of the radioactive isotope. The reaction of g°Bi occurs for atoms of that particular isotope whether they are in pure elemental bismuth, combined in bismuth chloride, BiClg bismuth sulfate, 812(804)3, or any other bismuth compound, or if they happen to be present in the low-melting alloy used in sprinkler systems for fire protection in large buildings. 

Nuclear reactions result in the formation of different elements because of changes in the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. In ordinary chemical reactions the atoms keep their identities while changing from one compound as a reactant to another as a product. 

10 Distinguish natural radioactivity from induced radioactivity produced by bombardment reactions. 

In natural radioactive decay we find an example of the alchemist s get-rich-quick dream of converting one element to another. But the natural process for uranium does not yield the gold coveted hy the alchemist rather, it produces the element lead, with which the dreamer wanted to begin his transmutation. The question remained after radioactivity was discovered Can we initiate the transmutation of one ordinarily stable element into another  

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Nuclear Bombardment and Induced Radioactivity COAL 9 Define or identify nuclear bombardment reactions. COAL 10 Distinguish natural radioactivity from induced radioactivity produced by bombardment reactions. 

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