Miscellaneous
part of the atom involved in a normal chemical reaction
What is an electron
DOUBLE: most penetrating form of radiation
what is gamma ray
The splitting apart of U-235 is defined as what?
what is fission
Two atoms that combine together and release a ton of energy in the process is defined as what? (this reaction happens on the Sun)
what is fusion
Part of the atom involved in a nuclear reaction.
nucleus
What type of reaction does fission result in?
chain reaction
Why isn't fusion used in power plants (hint: the Sun)?
required temperatures are too high
define transmutation
changing of one atom's nucleus into another atom's nucleus
Both Fission and Fusion reactions release massive amounts of what in addition to their respective atomic nuclei?
huge amounts of energy
What is the beneficial aspect of nuclear fission? (2 answers)
2. The ability to produce more energy than nuclear fusion
during what kind of reaction can mass be converted to energy?
Only during a nuclear reaction
what is the difference between artificial and natural transmutation and name the nuclear reactions for each
natural happens spontaneously -- alpha decay, beta decay, gamma radiation
artificial is man-made -- fission, fusion
what are risks of using nuclear reactions for power?
radiation to workers; radioactive waste and pollution; uncontrollable reaction
Daily Double: As a sample of a radioactive element decays, its half-life A. decreases B. increases C. remains the same
What is the total mass of a 10 gram sample of 42K that will remain unchanged after 12.4 hours? A. 2.5 g B. 5.0 g C. 7.5 g D. 10 g
C. Remains the same because half life is the time it takes for 50% of the radioactive isotope to decay therefore times does not change
B. 5 grams because only one half life occurred
We would divided the total time by the amount of time needed to achieve the number of half life.
12.4 hr /12.36 =1 half life
Fission of uranium-235 nuclei can produce _____ and other product isotopes.
A. hydrogen, oxygen
B. krypton, barium
C. water molecules, hydrogen
D. nitrogen, argon
B. Kr and Ba (smaller but large molecules from fission "splitting" reaction)
artificial transmutation is brought about by using accelerated particles to bombard an atom's
nucleus
List the types of decay in order of ionizing power (greatest to least).
alpha beta gamma
Productive uses for nuclear chemistry (name 3 isotope examples)
What are medicine, energy, food irradiation
The half life of Thorium-227 is 16 days, how many days are required for 1/16 to remain?
What is 64 days
What is NOT a benefit of a fission reactor?
A. Conserves Energy
B. Supplies plentiful energy
C. Produces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses
D. Eliminates a megaton of sulfur oxides
C. Produces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses
Compare and contrast fission and fusion.
both release high amounts of energy (fission higher); both are nuclear reactions (involve the nucleus); fission is "splitting" a nucleus, fusion is combining 2 smaller nuclei; fission happens in nuclear power plants and atomic bombs, fusion is only observed on the sun.