13 Nuclei

13.2 Atomic Masses and Composition of Nucleus 13.5 Nuclear Force

13.3 Size of the Nucleus 13.6 Radioactivity
13.4 Mass-Energy and Nuclear Binding Energy 13.7 Nuclear Energy

Topicwise Analysis of Last 10 Years’ CBSE Board Questions (2016-2007)

VSA SA I SA II VBQ LA

6
Number of questions

0
13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7
Topic

8 Maximum weightage is of Radioactivity. 8 Maximum SA I type questions were asked from

Nuclear Energy.
8 Maximum VSA, SA II and LA type questions were
asked from Radioactivity. 8 No VBQ type questions were asked till now.

KEY POINTS
8 Composition of the Nucleus in a nucleus is called its mass number and is
X The nucleus of an atom contains protons and denoted by A.
neutrons which are collectively known as – Number of protons in an atom = Z
nucleons. The number of protons in a nucleus – Number of electrons in an atom = Z
is called its atomic number and is denoted by – Number of nucleons in an atom = A
Z. The total number of protons and neutrons – Number of neutrons in an atom = N = A – Z.
X Nuclide : It is a specific nucleus of an atom The binding energy per nucleon of a nucleus
which is characterised by its atomic number Z = Eb/A
and mass number A. It is represented by ZXA The greater the binding energy per nucleon, the
where X is the chemical symbol of the element. more stable is the nucleus.
X Nuclear Radius : Nuclear radius R = R0 X Binding Energy Curve
A1/3 where R0 is a constant and A is the mass It is curve drawn between binding energy per
number. nucleon and mass number as shown in the
Nuclear radius is measured in fermi. figure.
1 fm = 10–15 m
X Nuclear Density :
mass of nucleus
Nuclear density r =
volume of nucleus
Nuclear density is independent of A and is in
order of the 1017 kg m–3.
8 Isotopes : Isotopes of an element are the atoms
of the element which have the same atomic
number but different mass numbers. e.g. 1H1,
X The main features of the curve as follows :
1H , 1H , are the three isotopes of hydrogen.
2 3
– The binding energy per nucleon is practically
8 Isobars : Isobars are the atoms of different constant, i.e., practically independent of
elements which have the same mass number the atomic number for nuclei of middle
but different atomic numbers. e.g. 11Na22 and mass number (30 < A < 170). The curve has
10Ne .
22
a maximum of about 8.75 MeV for A = 56
8 Isotones : Isotones are the nuclides which and has a value of 7.6 MeV for A = 238.
contain the same number of neutrons. e.g. 17Cl37 – The binding energy per nucleon is lower for
and 19K39. both light nuclei (A < 30) and heavy nuclei
8 Nuclear forces : Nuclear forces are the strong (A > 170).
forces of attraction which hold together the 8 Radioactivity : Radioactivity was discovered in
nucleons (neutrons and protons) in the tiny 1896 by Antoine Henri Becquerel.
nucleus of an atom, inspite of strong electrostatic Radioactivity is the spontaneous disintegration
forces of repulsion between protons. of nuclei of some nuclides (called radio nuclides)
X Nuclear forces are strongest forces in nature. with the emission of alpha particles or beta
X Nuclear forces are short range forces. particles, some accompanied by a gamma ray
X Nuclear forces do not obey inverse square law. emission.
X Nuclear forces are charge independent. X Law of Radioactive Decay
dN
8 Mass defect : The difference in mass of a nucleus = −lN (t) or N (t) = N0 e −lt
and its constituents is known as the mass defect dt
where l is the decay constant or disintegration
and is given by
constant, N is the number of nuclei left
Dm = [Zmp + (A – Z)mn – mN]
where mp is the mass of the proton and mn is the undecayed at the time t, N0 is the number of
mass of the neutron and mN is the mass of the radioactive nuclei at t = 0.
nucleus. – Half-life of a radioactive substance is given
by
8 Binding Energy : The binding energy of nucleus ln 2 0.693
is given by T=
1/ 2 =
l l
Eb = Dmc2 = [Zmp + (A – Z)mn – mN]c2 – Mean life or average life of a radioactive
= [Zmp + (A – Z)mn – mN] × 931.49 MeV/u. substance is given by
 1 T1 / 2 – Kinetic energy of alpha particles is given by
t= = = 1.44T1 / 2
l 0.693 A−4
KEa = Q
X Activity : The number of disintegrations A
occurring in a radioactive substance per second where A is the mass number of parent nucleus.
X Beta decay : A nucleus that decays spontaneously
and it is given by R = –dN/dt.
by emitting an electron or a positron is said to
– The SI unit of activity is becquerel.
undergo beta decay.
1 becquerel = 1 Bq = 1 decay/sec.
– In beta minus decay (β–), a neutron is
– The traditional unit of activity is the curie. transformed into a proton and an electron
1 curie = 1 Ci = 3.70 × 1010 decays/s and antineutrino is emitted.
= 37 GBq.
n → p + e− +
X The other unit of radioactivity is rutherford.
1 rutherford = 106 disintegrations/s. where n is the neutron, p is the proton, e– is
X Activity law, R(t) = R0e–lt the electron and is the antineutrino.
– The beta minus decay is represented by
where R0 = lN0 is the decay rate at t = 0 and
R = Nl.
A
ZX → A
Z +1 Y + e− +
X Fraction of nuclei left undecayed after n half – In beta minus decay, disintegration energy
lives is Q is given by
Q = [mX – mY]c2
( ) = ( 21 )
n t /T
N 1 1/ 2 or t = nT1/2
= – In beta plus decay (β+ ) or positron emission,
N0 2
a proton is transformed into neutron and
8 Radioactive decay : The various radioactive positron and neutrino is emitted.
decays are shown in the table. p → n + e+ +
Decay Transformation Example where e+ is the positron and ν is the
neutrino.
Alpha A A−4 4 238 234
→ 90T h + 42 H e – The beta plus decay is represented by
Z X → Z − 2 Y + 2H e 92 U
decay A
ZX → A
Z −1 Y + e+ +
Beta A A − 14 14 −
ZX → Z + 1Y + e + 6C → 7 N + e + – In beta plus decay, the disintegration energy
decay
is given by
Positron A A + 64 64 +
Z X → Z −1 Y + e + 29 C u → 28Ni + e + Q = [mX – mY – 2me]c2
emission
where me is the mass of the electron.
Electron A − A 64 − 64 – The kinetic energy of an electron or a
Z X + e → Z −1Y 29 C u + e → 28Ni
capture positron in the beta decay vary continuously
Gamma A A 87 87 from zero to a certain maximum value
Z X * → ZX + g 38 Sr * → 38 Sr + g
decay K.E.max. The maximum kinetic energy
[ * de notes an excited nuclear state.] K.E.max of an electron or positron must
X Alpha decay : A nucleus that decays equal the disintegration energy Q.
spontaneously by emitting an alpha particle (a X Gamma decay : When a nucleus in an excited
state makes a transition to state of lower
helium nucleus 42 H e ) is said to undergo alpha energy, electromagnetic radiation of very short
decay. The alpha decay is represented by wavelength is emitted.
A
ZX → A− 4
Z−2 Y + 42H e – The gamma decay is represented by
A A
where ZA X is the parent nucleus and ZA−−24 Y is ZX * → ZX +g
the daughter nucleus. [* denotes the excited nuclear state.]
– In a alpha decay disintegration energy Q is 8 Nuclear reaction : A nuclear reaction is
given by represented by
Q = (mX – mY – mH e)c2 A+a→B+b+Q
 where A is the target nucleus, a is the impinging Neutron reproduction factor (K)
particle, B and b are the products, Q is the rate of production of neutrons
energy released in the process. =
rate of loss of neutrons
The nuclear reaction is represented by notation X Uncontrolled nuclear chain reaction is the basis
A(a, b)B.
of an atom bomb. Controlled nuclear chain
Q value of nuclear reaction,
reaction is the basis of a nuclear reactor.
Q = (mA + ma – mB – mb)c2
X Nuclear reactor : Nuclear reactor uses nuclear
X If Q is positive, the reaction is exothermic and if
energy for peaceful purposes. It is based on
Q is negative the reaction is endothermic.
the phenomenon of controlled nuclear chain
X Conservation laws obeyed by every nuclear
reaction. Moderators like heavy water, graphite,
reaction are
paraffin and deuterium slow down neutrons.
– Conservation of charge number
Rods of cadmium and boron serv as control
– Conservation of mass number
rods. Ordinary water and heavy water serve as
– Conservation of linear momentum
– Conservation of energy coolants.
X Nuclear fission : It is the phenomenon of X Nuclear fusion : It is the phenomenon of fusing
splitting a heavy nucleus into two or more two or more lighter nuclei to form a single
smaller nuclei. heavy nucleus.
– The nuclear fission of 92U235 is represented as – The nuclear fusion reaction of two deutrons
+ 0n1 → 56Ba141 + 36Kr92 + 3 0n1 + Q is represented as
92U
235

1H + 1H → 2He + 24 MeV
2 2 4
The value of the Q is 200 MeV per fission
reaction. – Temperature ≈ 107 K are required for fusion
X Nuclear chain reaction : Under suitable to take place.
conditions, the three secondary neutrons may – Nuclear fusion is a basis of hydrogen bomb.
cause further fission of U235 nuclei and start X Stellar energy : It is the energy obtained from
what is known as nuclear chain reaction. The the sun and stars. The source of stellar energy is
nuclear chain reaction is controlled by nuclear fusion.