fossil fuel vs nuclear energy

types of energy

conventional

nuclear

renewable

conventional energy

fuel gas coal. fossil fuels

energy from breaking chemical bonds

nuclear energy

uranium or other fissile material

breaking nuclear bonds

renewable

varies,, mechanical energy (wind wave sunlight etc)

matter

something that has mass and takes up space

molecules

collections of atoms bound together in specific combinations

chemical bonds

breaking or making bonds involves the absorption of energy or the release of energy

hydrocarbons

Compounds composed of only carbon and hydrogen

burning hydrocarbons

co2 h2o are formed and releases greater energy than we put in

combustion reaction

net energy producers, more energy released then put in to break bonds

units of energy

joules, btus, kwh, calories, ergs, ev

all atoms have

protons, neutrons, electrons in a nucleus

electron

smallest, has negative electrical charge

neutron

largest, has no electrical charge and stable but very unstable by themselves

proton

medium sized, has a positive electrical charge

very stable subatomic particle, can exist on their own

proton and neutron

form the nucleus, collectively called nuclens

isotopes

define the type of element

num of neutrons determines the isotope

atomic number

number of protons

atomic mass

total number of nucleons

mass defect

sum of protons and neutrons differs from mass of nucleus

weigh slightly more then when inside nucleus cuz the formation of nucelus removes some energy

nuclear binding energy

the minimum energy that would be required to disassemble the nucleus of an atom into its component parts

nuclear reaction

change in the identity of an atomic nucleus that resulst when it is bombarded with an energetic particle

fission, fusion, and radioactive decay

nuclear fission

a heavy nucleus splits spontaneously or on impact with another particle with the release of energy

conventional energy is stored in

molecular bonds

nuclear energy is stored in

nuclear bonds

convential energy is the rearragement of

atoms

nuclear energy is the rearrangement of

protons and neutrons (nucleons)

convential energy forms new

molecules

nuclear energy forms new

atoms

conventional energy has balanced number of

atoms

nucear energy has balanced number of

nucleons

net energy produced by difference between (conventional)

energy needed to break apart molecules and energy stored in molecular bonds

net energy produced by difference between (nuclear)

energy needed to break apart atoms and energy stored in nuclear bonds

Fissionable vs Fissile

only certain atoms have the ability to breakdown in a nuclear reaction and release energy which is called fissionable

a subset of fissionable is also fissile (capable of sustaining a nuclear reaction)

produce neutrons to sustain the reaction

fissile material

Material capable of sustaining a nuclear fission chain reaction.

What is the most common isotope of uranium found in nature?

U-238

Is U-238 weakly radioactive?

Yes

What is the process of increasing the concentration of U-235 called?

Enrichment

What is the appearance of uranium?

Silvery white

Is uranium highly reactive with non-metals?

Yes

Why does U-235 need to be enriched for use in a nuclear reactor?

Because most uranium is U-238, U-235 needs to be concentrated to achieve a chain reaction.

What is the typical enrichment range of U-235 for a nuclear reactor?

0.9-19.75%

nuclear reactor vs atomic bomb

energy produced in a nuclear reactor is controlled by control rods and concentration of u-235

atomic bomb has greater concentration and no control rods

nuclear fission reactor

reactors that release energy steadily due to the fission of a suitable isotope, such as uranium-235. its formed into pellets and placed into cylindrical rods