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Chapter 21: Q50 E (page 1206)

Cite the conditions necessary for a nuclear chain reaction to take place. Explain how it can be controlled to produce energy, but not produce an explosion.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The fundamental requirement is that the number of neutrons produced by fission is equal to or surpassed by the number of neutrons absorbed by the rods and the number of neutrons leaving the surroundings. Control rods are used to control it.

Step by step solution

01

Step 1: Define Nuclear Chemistry

Nuclear chemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies radioactivity, nuclear processes, and atomic nuclei alterations such as nuclear transmutation and nuclear characteristics.

02

Explanation

The amount of neutrons produced by fission must equal or surpass the number of neutrons absorbed by the dual rods plus the number of neutrons that escape to the surroundings for a nuclear chain reaction to occur.

It can be regulated by utilizing control rods that absorb the extra neutrons produced, allowing the rate to be controlled while avoiding an explosion.

Therefore, the fundamental requirement is that the amount of neutrons generated by fission equals or surpasses the number of neutrons absorbed by the rods plus the number of neutrons escaping to the surroundings.

Control rods can be used to control it.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Question: Write a nuclear reaction for each step in the formation of \({}_{84}^{{\rm{218}}}Po\) from \({}_{{\rm{98}}}^{{\rm{238}}}{\rm{U}}\), which proceeds by a series of decay reactions involving the step-wise emission of \({\rm{\alpha , \beta , \beta , \alpha , \alpha , \alpha }}\) particles, in that order.

Isotopes such as\(^{26}{\rm{Al}}\)(half-life:\(7.2 \times {10^5}\)years) are believed to have been present in our solar system as it formed, but have since decayed and are now called extinct nuclides.

(a)\(^{26}{\rm{Al}}\)decays by\({\beta ^ + }\)emission or electron capture. Write the equations for these two nuclear transformations.

(b) The earth was formed about\(4.7 \times {10^9}\)(4.7 billion) years ago. How old was the earth when\(99.999999\% \)of the\(^{26}{\rm{Al}}\)originally present had decayed?

Technetium\({\rm{ - 99}}\) is often used for assessing heart, liver, and lung damage because certain technetium compounds are absorbed by damaged tissues. It has a half-life of \({\rm{6}}{\rm{.0 h}}\). Calculate the rate constant for the decay of \({}_{{\rm{43}}}^{{\rm{99}}}{\rm{Tc}}\).

Question: 13. Complete each of the following equations by adding the missing species:

\(\begin{array}{l}{\bf{(a) }}_{{\bf{13}}}^{{\bf{27}}}{\bf{Al + }}_{\bf{2}}^{\bf{4}}{\bf{Hen }} \to {\bf{? + }}_{\bf{0}}^{\bf{1}}{\bf{n}}\\{\bf{(b) }}_{{\bf{94}}}^{{\bf{239}}}{\bf{Pu + }} \to {\bf{?n}}_{{\bf{96}}}^{{\bf{242}}}{\bf{Cm + }}_{\bf{0}}^{\bf{1}}{\bf{n}}\\{\bf{(c) }}_{{\bf{ 7}}}^{{\bf{14}}}{\bf{\;N + }}_{\bf{2}}^{\bf{4}}{\bf{Hen }} \to {\bf{? + }}_{\bf{1}}^{\bf{1}}{\bf{H}}\\{\bf{(d) }}_{{\bf{92}}}^{{\bf{235}}}{\bf{Un }} \to {\bf{? + }}_{{\bf{55}}}^{{\bf{135}}}{\bf{Cs + 4}}_{\bf{0}}^{\bf{1}}{\bf{n}}\end{array}\)

The isotope \({}_{{\rm{38}}}^{{\rm{90}}}{\rm{Sr}}\) is one of the extremely hazardous species in the residues from nuclear power generation. The strontium in a \({\rm{0}}{\rm{.500 - g}}\) sample diminishes to \({\rm{0}}{\rm{.393 g}}\)in \({\rm{10}}{\rm{.0 y}}\). Calculate the half-life.
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