Chapter 3
XI Chemistry
"The phenomenon in which those elements whose charge
number is greater than 82 emits powerful radiation, these
radiations are called radioactive rays and the phenomena is
called radioactivity”.
Most of the elements after lead (having atomic number greater than
82) in the periodic table are naturally radioactive.
EXAMPLE:
Uranium (U), Thorium (Th), Actinium (Ac), Polonium (Po), Radium (Ra).
REASON:
The reason for radioactivity is the relative instability of nuclei. Therefore, an element after
giving out radiations break down to a more stable element and finally to lead (Pb).
1.1 EXPERIMENT FOR RADIOACTIVE
RAYS:
A radioactive material is placed in a cavity made in a lead DID YOU KNOW?
block which protects the observer from the harmful
radiations, a photographic plate is placed above at some Bananas contains
distance and an electric or a magnetic field is applied as potassium that makes
shown in the figure. It is observed that the radiations are not them slightly radioactive.
10, 00,000 bananas, if
of one kind but they resolve into three types of rays called α, β eaten at once, will cause
and γ rays. In the magnetic field, alpha rays bend towards radiation poisoning
south pole showing that they have positive charge and beta leading to death.
rays bend towards north pole showing that they have
negative charge and gamma rays remains unaffected as they
have no electric charge.
Chapter 3
XI Chemistry
PROPERTIES OF ALPHA PARTICLES:
They are fast moving helium nuclei (2He4). They are positively charged
(+2𝑒). Their emission from a nucleus decreased "Z" by 2 and "A" by 4.
𝑍𝑋
𝐴
→ 𝑍−2𝑋
𝐴−4
+ ( 2𝐻𝑒 4 )+2
1. The measurement of e/m shows that they are doubly
positive particles with mass of 4 units, i.e. helium
nuclei.
2. These radiations are deflected by electric and
magnetic fields showing that they are positively
charged particles.
3. They effect photographic plate (feebly).
4. Their velocity is 1/10th of speed of light or even smaller (~
10% of C).
Chapter 3
XI Chemistry
5. Their penetration power is low. They are stopped by a few
(3 − 8) centimeter of air (small range) or by 1mm thick
Aluminum foil or skin.
6. They produce ionization power for gases that is high
(10,000 times greater than X – rays).
7. They produce fluorescence (in Zn, S, Ba, platinocyanide
etc.).
8. When they are absorbed in matter, they produce heating
effect.
9. When human body is exposed to X-rays, it suffers from
incurable burns.
10. They are scattered when pass through thin sheets of mica,
Al, Au. etc.
Chapter 3
XI Chemistry
PROPERTIES OF BETA PARTICLES:
They are found to be fast moving electrons, which are of nuclei
origin. Emission of β- particles from nucleus cause one of the
neutrons to become proton.
2 They are deflected by electric and magnetic fields showing that
they are negatively charged particles (e− ).
3 The measurement of e/m shows that they are electrons.
4 They effect on photographic plate more strongly than α −particles.
5 Their velocity is 1/5th of the speed of light or even higher (~ 99% of C).
6 The ionization power is lower than X-rays.
7 Their penetration power (range) is more than α −particles (about
100 times that of α − particles).
8 They produce florescence in (Ba- platinocyanide, Ca-tungstate
etc.).
9 When they are absorbed in matter, they produce heating effect.
10 They are scattered when pass through matter.
1.1.3 PROPERTIES OF GAMMA PARTICLES:
ZX
A→
ZY
A+γ
These radiations are electromagnetic waves (photons) of very high frequency > 1020 Hz their
emission does not alter Z or A of a nucleus, but merely lowers the energy. Thus, excited
nucleus.
1. They are not deflected by electric or magnetic fields showing that they are not
charged particles.
2. They effect on photographic plate (more intensely then β − particles).
3. They travel with speed equal to that of light.
4. The ionization power is less than (β − particles).
5. Crystals diffract them. (Like X-rays).
6. Matter absorbs them.
7. They produce fluorescence.
8. They cause damage to human cells.
9. They are also used for destroying cancer cells in hospitals, sterilization of materials.
10. Their penetration power (range) is extremely high (about 10,000 times α −particles).
They can pass through 30cm thick iron. They are stopped by a thick concentrate wall or
lead block
Chapter 4
IX Chemistry
Page no. 5
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