>> host: Welcome to the final
video on the Unit 12
playlist of our
"Chemistry Matters" series.
A recap of Unit 11,
Nuclear Chemistry.
Unit 11 began with our students
using cloud chambers to
visualize nuclear particles.
And I showed how
a geiger counter can be used
to hear and count
nuclear particles.
Through these processes,
we learned how to identify
the different types of
nuclear decay products
found in radioactive elements.
Our students then practiced
identifying isotopes
and writing isotope notation
for alpha, beta,
and gamma decay equations.
We explored the usefulness
of radioactive
nuclear decay particles
as medical tracers,
and as a tool to
destroy cancer cells.
We even learned how to
calculate the age of fossils
by using radioactive half-life.
Our students then investigated
nuclear fission,
represented by the animation
you see here.
But even more important for
our Georgia science standards
is the process
of nuclear fusion,
and how the nuclear fusion
process produces
all of the elements
on the periodic table that
are heavier than hydrogen.
Nuclear fusion is a process
that occurs when two
lighter nuclei combine
to form heavier nuclei,
and it's always accompanied
by a release of energy.
Because the larger atoms
are often more stable
and less energetic,
tremendous amounts of energy
are released in this process.
In fact, the energy from fusion
is probably the most important
to our lives.
Fusion produces the energy
that the sun releases,
so it's the energy that
sustains life as we know it.
Every element larger than
hydrogen on the periodic table
was formed from fusion
inside of stars.
Within a star,
hydrogen nuclei combine
their nuclei with other
hydrogen nuclei
to form helium.
Then other hydrogen nuclei
combine with helium nuclei
to get lithium,
and the fusion keeps going on
until iron,
which has 26 protons,
is produced.
As the iron atoms are forced
closer to the lighter atoms,
they're smashed together
and forced to create
the heavier elements we find
on the periodic table.
Increasing gravity causes
more and more fusion,
and all of that fusion releases
an incredible amount of energy.
This energy release is called
a supernova explosion.
And this is how all the elements
heavier than iron were created.
Back in the classroom,
far away from the stars,
our students demonstrated
a simplified simulation
of fusion by smashing
marshmallows together
to form models of helium,
which were further
smashed together
to make models of carbon.
Before Unit 11 was complete,
our students were assigned
a tiered performance task.
Each student got to work on
an assignment of their choice.
These performance tasks
focused on fission, fusion,
and the uses of
radioactive materials.
And to help summarize
all of these ideas,
and confirm our understanding
of why nuclear chemistry
is important to us,
we visited a radio
chemistry laboratory
to investigate how
radioactive materials
are detected in
environmental samples.
By now, it should be clear
that effective methods
of testing for radioactive
samples not only exist,
but laboratories exist
in which you might carry out
such investigations yourself,
as a possible future career.
Remember, our Unit 11 toolkit
has a document on which
you can find the list of
Georgia science standards
addressed in Unit 11.
And our "Chemistry Matters"
series toolkit has
a complete list of Georgia
science standards for chemistry
found in all units
across the series.
We've now reached the end of
our "Chemistry Matters" series.
But don't forget that those
toolkits I've been mentioning
are great resources
for additional information.
And as you recall,
we've created multiple
Closer Look videos
for much of the content
throughout the series that
can help you further explore
a wide range of topics.
I'm Rachel Garner.
On behalf of everyone here
at Georgia Public Broadcasting,
we hope you've found this series
to be both educational
and thought provoking.
The staff of GPB
takes very seriously
our mission to create,
produce and distribute
high quality programs
and services that educate,
inform and entertain audiences
and enrich the quality
of their lives.
And, of course, we've done
our best to meet this goal
with "Chemistry Matters."
Thanks for watching.