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Chapter 18: Problem 5

What are transuranium elements and how are they synthesized?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Transuranium elements are artificial elements with atomic numbers greater than 92 (uranium). They are synthesized through nuclear reactions involving the bombardment of a target nucleus with particles like neutrons, protons, or heavier nuclei to create larger nuclei with higher atomic numbers. The process involves choosing a suitable target nucleus and bombarding particles, accelerating the particles using a particle accelerator, causing the desired nuclear reaction, and finally detecting and identifying the newly created transuranium element through various detectors and spectroscopic techniques.

Step by step solution

01

Introduction to Transuranium Elements

Transuranium elements are chemical elements that have atomic numbers higher than the element uranium (atomic number 92). These elements do not occur naturally on Earth and are created artificially in laboratories through nuclear reactions.
02

Different Synthesis Methods

There are several methods to synthesize transuranium elements, including: 1. Neutron bombardment: Bombarding a target nucleus with neutrons to form a larger nucleus. 2. Proton bombardment: Bombarding a target nucleus with protons to increase its atomic number. 3. Heavy ion bombardment: Bombarding a target nucleus with heavy ions such as alpha particles or other nuclei. In all these methods, the basic idea is to combine the target nucleus with the bombarding particles in such a way that the resulting nucleus has a higher atomic number than the original target nucleus.
03

Selection of Target Nucleus and Bombarding Particles

First, we need to choose a target nucleus and appropriate bombarding particles to create a specific transuranium element. The choice depends on the desired synthetic route and the specific element that we want to synthesize.
04

Accelerating Bombarding Particles

The bombarding particles are accelerated to extremely high speeds to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged particles and target nucleus. This is done using a particle accelerator, such as a cyclotron or a linear accelerator.
05

Nuclear Reaction

The accelerated particles collide with the target nucleus, and if the conditions are right, they will overcome the repulsion and combine with the target nucleus. The result is a new nucleus with a higher atomic number, creating a transuranium element. However, several different reactions might occur, so the desired reaction might not always be the most probable one.
06

Detection and Identification

After the nuclear reaction, the newly created nucleus may undergo radioactive decay, emitting various forms of radiation. These radiations can be detected and measured to determine the atomic number and other properties of the newly synthesized transuranium element. This is typically done using detectors and spectroscopic methods, such as gamma-ray spectroscopy or mass spectrometry. In conclusion, transuranium elements are artificially synthesized elements with atomic numbers greater than 92. They are created through various nuclear reactions, such as neutron, proton, or heavy-ion bombardment, followed by the detection and identification of the newly created nuclei.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Consider the following information: i. The layer of dead skin on our bodies is sufficient to protect us from most \(\alpha\) -particle radiation. ii. Plutonium is an \(\alpha\) -particle producer. iii. The chemistry of \(\mathrm{Pu}^{4+}\) is similar to that of \(\mathrm{Fe}^{3+}\). iv. Pu oxidizes readily to \(\mathrm{Pu}^{4+}\) Why is plutonium one of the most toxic substances known?

A chemist wishing to do an experiment requiring \(^{47} \mathrm{Ca}^{2+}\) (half-life \(=4.5\) days) needs \(5.0 \mu \mathrm{g}\) of the nuclide. What mass of \(^{47} \mathrm{CaCO}_{3}\) must be ordered if it takes \(48 \mathrm{h}\) for delivery from the supplier? Assume that the atomic mass of \(^{47} \mathrm{Ca}\) is \(47.0 \mathrm{u}\)

The curie (Ci) is a commonly used unit for measuring nuclear radioactivity: 1 curie of radiation is equal to \(3.7 \times 10^{10}\) decay events per second (the number of decay events from 1 g radium in 1 s). A 1.7 -mL sample of water containing tritium was injected into a 150 -lb person. The total activity of radiation injected was \(86.5 \mathrm{mCi}\). After some time to allow the tritium activity to equally distribute throughout the body, a sample of blood plasma containing \(2.0 \mathrm{mL}\) water at an activity of \(3.6 \mu \mathrm{Ci}\) was removed. From these data, calculate the mass percent of water in this 150 -lb person.

The curie (Ci) is a commonly used unit for measuring nuclear radioactivity: 1 curie of radiation is equal to \(3.7 \times 10^{10}\) decay events per second (the number of decay events from 1 g radium in \(1 \mathrm{s}\) ). a. What mass of \(\mathrm{Na}_{2}^{38} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) has an activity of \(10.0 \mathrm{mCi} ?\) Sulfur-38 has an atomic mass of 38.0 u and a half-life of \(2.87 \mathrm{h}\) b. How long does it take for \(99.99 \%\) of a sample of sulfur-38 to decay?

Zirconium is one of the few metals that retains its structural integrity upon exposure to radiation. The fuel rods in most nuclear reactors therefore are often made of zirconium. Answer the following questions about the redox properties of zirconium based on the half-reaction $$\mathrm{ZrO}_{2} \cdot \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}+4 \mathrm{e}^{-} \longrightarrow \mathrm{Zr}+4 \mathrm{OH}^{-} \quad \mathscr{C}^{\circ}=-2.36 \mathrm{V}$$a. Is zirconium metal capable of reducing water to form hydrogen gas at standard conditions? b. Write a balanced equation for the reduction of water by zirconium. c. Calculate \(\mathscr{E}^{\circ}, \Delta G^{\circ},\) and \(K\) for the reduction of water by zirconium metal. d. The reduction of water by zirconium occurred during the accidents at Three Mile Island in \(1979 .\) The hydrogen produced was successfully vented and no chemical explosion occurred. If \(1.00 \times 10^{3} \mathrm{kg}\) Zr reacts, what mass of \(\mathrm{H}_{2}\) is produced? What volume of \(\mathrm{H}_{2}\) at 1.0 atm and \(1000 .^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) is produced? e. At Chernobyl in \(1986,\) hydrogen was produced by the reaction of superheated steam with the graphite reactor core:$$\mathbf{C}(s)+\mathbf{H}_{2} \mathbf{O}(g) \longrightarrow \mathbf{C O}(g)+\mathbf{H}_{2}(g)$$ It was not possible to prevent a chemical explosion at Chernobyl. In light of this, do you think it was a correct decision to vent the hydrogen and other radioactive gases into the atmosphere at Three Mile Island? Explain.
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