Nuclear Processes

Chernobyl Power Plant

nuclear power plant in Russia that had an explosion in 1986 & released radioactive materials into the air

Isotope

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons

proton

A subatomic particle that has a positive charge and that is found in the nucleus of an atom

electron

A subatomic particle that has a negative charge

strong force

attractive force that acts between protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus

atomic number

the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

atomic mass

the weighted average of the masses of the isotopes of an element

amu

atomic mass unit

Fission

The splitting of an atomic nucleus to release energy.

reactant

a substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a reaction.

product

A substance produced in a chemical reaction

gamma radiation

High-energy radiation emitted by the nuclei of radioactive atoms. VERY Low ionization high penetration

alpha particle

A cluster of 2 protons and 2 neutrons emitted from a nucleus in one type of radioactivity
High ionization VERY low penetration

beta particle

a high-speed electron with a 1- charge that is emitted during radioactive decay
Medium ionization Medium penetration

half-life

length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay

control rods

neutron-absorbing rods that help control the reaction by limiting the number of free neutrons

radioactive decay

A spontaneous process in which unstable nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation

Uranium-235

an unstable, fissionable isotope of uranium

uranium enrichment

A process that results in an increase in the amount of the fissionable isotope of uranium in a given mass of uranium. Used mostly for nuclear weapons, naval propulsion, and smaller quantities for research reactors.

uranium - 238

most stable form of uranium, used in control rods

Cation

A positively charged ion

Anion

A negatively charged ion

Ion

An atom or group of atoms that has a positive or negative charge.

Ionization ability

ability of radioactive emissions to strip electrons from molecules, potentially causing damage

Penetration ability

Ability of radioactive emissions to pass through materials

Neutron

A subatomic particle that has no charge and that is found in the nucleus of an atom

Fukushima Daiichi

Japanese nuclear power plant severely damaged by the tsunami associated with the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake that rocked Japan. Most radiation drifted over the ocean away from population centers, but the event was history's second most serious nuclear accident.

AZX notation

Standard nuclear notation shows the chemical symbol, the mass number and the atomic number of the isotope.

percent abundance

the naturally occurring amount of a certain isotope of an element

abundance formula

(percent abundance in decimal * atomic mass) + (percent abundance in decimal * atomic mass)

Plum Pudding Model

soup of positive charge with electrons scattered within
Helped understand that an atom is stable and deflection of cathode rays in the presence of a negatively charged particle.

Rutherford Gold Foil

Wanted to prove plum pudding model
Chamber of lead that hold radioactive material (U or Rd) with a little whole that emits neutrons when it goes through fission. Catches alpha rays that goes through gold foil on detectors.

Shows that atom is mostly empty space with a nucleus of protons.

Nuke bomb energy

Nuclear energy is compact and radioactive elements go through fission uncontrollably. (Nuclear chain reaction happens very quickly) so a lot of energy is emitted.

U235 is used more because is has less neutrons and more unstable so goes through fission with slow neutrons + more frequently.

Power plant energy

Nuclear reaction is more controlled using U238 control rods because it has more neutrons and needs fast neutrons to go through fission (so less often than U235) and can absorb neutrons. (makes fission slower) less energy is emitted

Safety with Nuclear Energy

Confining radioactive in high density materials (lead, steel) because alpha decay has low penetration.
Geological confinement: nukes are far underground and put in casks so radiation emitted to the surface is less.
Casks are made of high density materials and very tight (airtight sealed)

Enriched Uranium

U238 that is used to have a higher oncentration of U235.
Put in centrifuges that spin super fast and U235 sits in middle U238 sits in outer and then is removed.

Alpha decay formula

releases Helium and subtract that from original element

Beta decay formula

neutron turn into a proton and electron is released

Gamma Decay formula

nothing is released except gamma radiation

Fission Formula

needs to be balanced on both sides a neutron is released and neutrons are added in the product.

Half life question that decays to a certain amt?

Divide sample by 2 then divide until you reach the amt and count the days (time in general)

Half life question that asks for a fraction?

Write out a table of hrs to fraction and keep going until that fraction then count the time it takes.

Half life in regard to nuclear waste

Half life is the amt of time it takes for half of a radioactive element to become stable. Radioactive material can never fully decay so this is why nuclear waste needs to be stored properly or a way that radioactive energy will not be emitted too much.

Half life can takes minutes to years which also requires proper storage so half life decaying radioactivity emits less.

effects of high ionization

Alpha and beta have high ionization so it can break molecules and cause DNA mutations by breaking nucleotides and cause diseases such as cancer.

Radioactive

when nucleus is split it releases radioactive energy