nuclear reactions test ⚛🧪⋆ ༘🔬₊

fusion

combining of lighter nuclei to make a heavier nucleus

where does fusion occur?

• the sun

• stars

fission

nucleus is bombarded by particles and split to create nuclei

where does fission occur

• uranium 235 (unstable atoms)

• nuclear power reactors

• nuclear reactions

controlled chain reaction (def+example)

• The rate of fission and conditions are carefully monitored

  • control rods in nuclear power plants

uncontrolled chain reaction (def+example)

• The rate of fission and conditions happen too rapidly or without regulation

  • bombs

Fission releases…

an enormous amount of energy

The fission of 1 mol to uranium 235 produces about…

26 million times as much energy as the combustion of 1 mole of methane

Alpha particle

For decay

• nucleus gives up 2 protons

• nucleus gives up 2 neutrons

• atomic number reduced by 2

• mass number reduced by 4

Beta particle - what happens for decay and capture

For decay

• Nucleus gains 1 proton

• Nucleus loses 1 neutron

• Atomic no increased by 1

• Mass no does not change

For capture

• Nuclesu loses 1 proton

• Nucleus gains 1 neutron

• Atomic no decreased by 1

• Mass does not change

Gamma ray

• high energy photon of light

• 0 charge

• 0 mass number

Positron

• beta plus decay

• proton turns into a neutron

neutron

particle on the left

• bombardment

• capture

particle on the right

• production

• decay

rule for balancing nuclear equations

both the atomic number and mass number must be conserved on both sides

half life

time it takes for half of the radioactive substance to decay until its no longer radioactive (more stable)

bismuth can undergo _ to form _

alpha decay, thalium

left/final amt equation

initial(1/2)ⁿ

equation for n

t_total/t_1/2

t total equation

n * half life

nucleon

either a proton or neutron inside the nucleus

atomic number

number of protons in an atom

mass number

sum of protons and neutrons

isotope

different number of neutrons

advantages of fusion

• low waste

• abundant fuel

• high energy yield

disadvantages of fusion

• extreme conditions required

fission advantages

• high tech for more advances

• high energy output

fission dis advantages

• produces waste

• nuclear accidents

radioactive decay

unstable nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation

radiotracers

radioactive compounds used in the medical field to treat disease

chain reaction

single nuclear reaction causes subsequent nuclear reactions

critical mass

minimum amount of fissile material needed to sustain a nuclear chain reaction

e = mc2

formula to calculate energy released when mass is converted to energy

beneficial uses of nuclear radiation

• food irradiation

• medical

• thickness gauging

• nuclear power