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Chapter 18: Problem 7

Why are the observed energy changes for nuclear processes so much larger than the energy changes for chemical and physical processes?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The observed energy changes for nuclear processes are much larger than the energy changes for chemical and physical processes because nuclear processes involve the strong nuclear force, which is many orders of magnitude stronger than the electromagnetic force responsible for chemical and physical processes. Nuclear processes, such as fission and fusion, involve changes in the binding energy of atomic nuclei, leading to energy release or absorption measured in mega-electron volts (MeV). In contrast, chemical and physical processes involve interactions between electrons and weaker forces between molecules, resulting in smaller energy changes measured in electron volts (eV).

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Nuclear Processes

Nuclear processes refer to changes that involve atomic nuclei. Nuclear reactions, such as fission and fusion, involve the release or absorption of energy when atomic nuclei interact and change. The energy is released or absorbed depending on the binding energy of the nucleons (protons and neutrons).
02

Understanding Physical and Chemical Processes

Physical processes typically refer to changes in the state of matter and do not involve changes in the identity of the substances involved. Chemical processes involve the creation and breaking of chemical bonds in molecules, which are the result of interactions between electrons.
03

Energy changes in Nuclear Processes

The energy changes in nuclear processes stem from the strong nuclear force holding the nucleus together. Nuclei often rearrange in ways that lead to lower binding energies, and the "excess" energy is released. The energy scale of nuclear processes is measured in mega-electron volts (MeV), much higher than chemical and physical processes, which are measured in electron volts (eV).
04

Energy changes in Chemical and Physical Processes

The energy changes in chemical and physical processes come from the interactions between electrons and, to a lesser extent, the forces between the molecules (such as Van der Waals forces). These interactions are much weaker than the strong nuclear force and their energy scale is smaller.
05

Compare Energy Changes

The strong nuclear force in nuclear processes is many orders of magnitude stronger than the electromagnetic force in chemical and physical processes. As a result, the energy changes in nuclear processes are significantly higher than those in chemical and physical processes. This is the main reason why observed energy changes for nuclear processes are much larger than the energy changes for chemical and physical processes.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

During the research that led to production of the two atomic bombs used against Japan in World War II. different mechanisms for obtaining a super- critical mass of fissionable material were investigated. In one type of bomb, a "gun" shot one piece of fissionable material into a cavity containing another piece of fissionable material. In the second type of bomb, the fissionable material was surrounded with a high explosive that, when detonated, compressed the fissionable material into a smaller volume. Discuss what is meant by critical mass, and explain why the ability to achieve a critical mass is essential to sustaining a nuclear reaction.

A recent study concluded that any amount of radiation exposure can cause biological damage. Explain the differences between the two models of radiation damage, the linear model and the threshold model.

Photosynthesis in plants can be represented by the following overall equation: $$6 \mathrm{CO}_{2}(g)+6 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l) \stackrel{\text { Light }}{\longrightarrow} C_{6} \mathrm{H}_{12} \mathrm{O}_{6}(s)+6 \mathrm{O}_{2}(g)$$ Algae grown in water containing some \(^{18} \mathrm{O}\) (in \(\mathrm{H}_{2}^{18} \mathrm{O}\) ) evolve oxygen gas with the same isotopic composition as the oxygen in the water. When algae growing in water containing only \(^{16} \mathrm{O}\) were furnished carbon dioxide containing \(^{18} \mathrm{O},\) no \(^{18} \mathrm{O}\) was found to be evolved from the oxygen gas produced. What conclusions about photosynthesis can be drawn from these experiments?

In each of the following radioactive decay processes, supply the missing particle. a. \(^{60} \mathrm{Co} \rightarrow^{60} \mathrm{Ni}+?\) b. \(^{97} \mathrm{Tc}+? \rightarrow^{97} \mathrm{Mo}\) c. \(^{99} \mathrm{Tc} \rightarrow^{99} \mathrm{Ru}+?\) d. \(^{239} \mathrm{Pu} \rightarrow^{235} \mathrm{U}+?\)

Define "third-life" in a similar way to "half-life," and determine the "third- life" for a nuclide that has a half-life of 31.4 years.
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