Atomic Structure and Nuclear Notation

Nuclear reactions are extremely violent, both on

a subatomic and a macroscopic (big) scale.

To study these, we must first look at the protons,

neutrons and electrons that make up atoms, and how
these interact with one another…

Atomic Particles

Relative Relative
Particle Symbol
mass charge
Test explosion, Nevada, 1953
Proton

Neutron

Electron

Atomic Structure
Atomic dissection: an atom is
made up of a central nucleus,
composed of protons and
neutrons, surrounded by
“shells” of orbiting electrons.

Remember!
Atoms normally contain the same number of
electrons as protons, so are neutrally charged.

An ion is an atom which has lost or gained an

electron, so has an overall charge.

How many electrons, protons and neutrons does this atom have?

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Atomic Structure and Nuclear Notation
Nuclear Notation

Atomic Number

Mass Number

Isotopes
The number of protons in a nucleus determines what element it is. All atoms of oxygen
contain eight protons. All atoms of carbon contain six protons.

However, a nucleus can contain a different number of neutrons.

Isotopes of Lithium: how many protons does each one have? And how many neutrons?

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Atomic Structure and Nuclear Notation
The table below shows a list of isotopes, their half-lives and the types of radiation they emit.
In the appropriate spaces in the table, write down the numbers of protons and neutrons in
each nucleus.

Radioactive Decay Processes

α (alpha) decay
 This is a very violent event, involving the ejection of 2 protons and 2


 neutrons from the nucleus. This is an α particle, and is equivalent to a He+
nucleus. It is highly ionising due to its large mass and +2 charge.

β (beta) decay
 This results from a neutron changing into a proton and electron. The

 proton stays in the nucleus and the electron (the β particle) is emitted.
The mass number of the nucleus stays the same, but the charge is
increased by 1.

you don’t need to

know anything about
this bit.
γ (gamma) decay
 When a nucleus has a lot of energy, sometimes it can release it in the

 form of a γ ray photon. This is emitted from the nucleus, but does not
change the number of protons or neutrons.

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Atomic Structure and Nuclear Notation

Worked Examples

Uranium-238 decays to Thorium by emitting an alpha particle. Complete the following decay
equation to show this.




Carbon-14 decays to Nitrogen by emitting a beta particle. Complete the following decay
equation to show this.




Protactinium-234 decays to Uranium by emitting a beta particle. Complete the following

decay equation to show this.




Plutonium-240 decays to Uranium by emitting an alpha particle. Complete the following

decay equation to show this.




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Atomic Structure and Nuclear Notation
The following radioactive isotopes decay via the emission of either an alpha or a beta
particle. For each decay complete the balanced equation.

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Atomic Structure and Nuclear Notation

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