Benchmark Practice

• Catalyst:1. Complete the reaction if it undergoes beta decay: 39

19K

2. Complete the reaction if it undergoes beta decay:3

1H

3. Complete for alpha decay:210

84Po

4. Complete for alpha decay:235

92U

End

Nuclear Chemistry Review and Benchmark Day

Today’s Focus Question

• How do fossil fuels work?

Why is carbon in all living matter?

I. Our Friend Carbon• Carbon likes to bond with a lot of atoms.• This is due to its 4 valence electrons• Because of this ability to bond, carbon is

essential in all living matter.

C

II. Our Friend Carbon• Because of carbon’s unique bonding characteristics,

this allows it to form repeating structures.• Large biological molecules are just repeating

structures of smaller carbon units.

What is the structure of biological molecules?

I. Amino Acids• Amino acids are the building blocks of

proteins.• Amino acids are connected together to create

proteins

II. Nucleotides• DNA is made of repeating units of nucleotides.• Because of carbon’s bonding structure, this allows

for many nucleotides to be linked together.

III. Starch• Starch is a common carbohydrate that is

made up of smaller repeating carbon rings• Starch is made of repeating glucose rings

Starch Glucose

How are fossil fuels connected to biochemistry?

I. Hydrocarbons and Fossil Fuels• Fossil fuels are made of carbon and hydrogen.• Hydrocarbon – Any long chained molecule that

contains only carbon and hydrogen bonds.

II. Energy from Fossil Fuels• The bonds in hydrocarbons have energy• When hydrocarbons are combusted (burned),

a large amount of energy is released• This large amount of heat/energy can be used

to power cars, factories, etc.

2C8H18 + 25O2 18H2O + 16CO2 + Energy

How is nuclear energy?

Nuclear Energy

• Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission reactions to generate electricity

• The energy of the reaction heats water, which turns a turbine, which generates electrical energy.

SUMMARIZEUse the following terms in your summary:• Carbon• Fission• Nuclear Energy• Fossil Fuel

Essay Practice• You will be writing an essay that analyzes the differences

between nuclear energy and fossil fuels.• This unit focused on the essential question of: what will be the

fuel of the future? We studied two main sources of fuel in this unit: nuclear energy and fossil fuels. Write an essay comparing and contrasting the benefits and dangers of nuclear energy and fossil fuels. You should answer the following questions:– What is nuclear fission and what happens when an atom is split into two?– How does nuclear energy use nuclear fission in order to power a turbine

in order to generate energy?– Why is carbon such an essential element in all biological molecules?– How do the high energy bonds in carbon allow for the production of

energy when fossil fuels are burned?

Stations Review

• Station 1 – Forces and Isotopes• Station 2 – Isotopes and Radioactivity• Station 3 – Radioactive Decay• Station 4 – Essay Practice

Tue

Closing Time• Benchmark Time!• PRACTICE YOUR ESSAYS