Chemistry open book paper Essay

During radioactive tumble, specks of one element ar changed into atoms of a nonher element through the release of alpha or beta components from their unstable nuclei. With alpha decay the pith emits an alpha particle, which is essentially a helium nucleus a supererogatory radical of two protons and two neutrons. It is a form of atomic nuclear fission where the nourish atom splits into two daughter products. The nuclear nucleus emits an alpha particle and transforms (or decays) into an atom with a slew number 4 less and atomic number 2 less. For example An alpha particle is the same as a helium-4 nucleus.Unlike beta decay, alpha decay is governed by the watertight nuclear force. In beta decay, a neutron in the nucleus of an atom is converted into a proton and an electron. The electron is released as a beta particle. under is the beta decay of Thorium to produce Protactinium. . In beta minus decay, the weak interaction converts a neutron into a proton while emitting an el ectron and an anti-neutrino. During beta-plus decay, a proton in an atoms nucleus turns into a neutron, emitting a antielectron and a neutrino. Alpha rays can be blocked by a sheet of paper, shielding against beta rays needs a sheet of admixture like aluminium.nuclear fission differs from other forms of radioactive decay in that it can be harnessed and promiseled via a chain answer on the loose(p) neutrons released by each fission event can trigger only to a greater extent events. Radioactive decay is unbidden. Most nuclear fuels undergo spontaneous fission only very slowly. Nucleosynthesis in stars Hydrogen and helium ar the almost abundant elements in the universe. Elements heavier than lithium argon all synthesized in stars. This first process of primordial nucleosynthesis may also be called nucleogenesis. In the Sun hydrogen is converted to helium in nuclear nuclear fusion response responses 41H 4He + subatomic particlesDuring the late stages of stellar evolution, massive stars burn helium to carbon, oxygen, silicon, sulphur, and iron. The end product of small amounts of hydrogen and helium nuclei makes it possible for the star to synthesise most of the elements in the first three periods of the Periodic table. Two r asidees for the generation of lithium are Route 1 4He + 3H 7Li Route 2 4He + 3He 7Be 7Be + electron 7Li The min route is interesting this is because it is a form of electron capture. This is where the collision mingled with an atom and an electron causes the proton to convert to a neutron and a neutrino is released.It is sometimes called opponent beta decay, the proton number and the structure of the nucleus is changed. fission and Fusion atomic fission is the splitting of the nucleus of an atom into lighter nuclei often producing free neutrons and other smaller nuclei. The emission of these neutrons can cause further fission in other nuclei, thus producing a chain reaction.Fission of solemn elements is an exothermic reac tion which can release large amounts of zipper both(prenominal) as electromagnetic radiation and as kinetic verve of the fragments. downstairs is an example of nuclear fission, showing Uranium-235 splitting to create strontium-90 and xenon-143Inside the reactor of an atomic power ready, Uranium atoms are split apart in a controlled chain reaction. This chain reaction gives off hop up energy. This kindle energy is used to boil water in the core of the reactor. So, kinda of burning a fuel, nuclear power plants use the chain reaction of atoms splitting to change the energy of atoms into heat energy. This water from close to the nuclear core is sent to another part of the power plant. Here, in the heat exchanger, it heats another set of pipes filled with water to make steam. The steam in this second set of pipes turns a turbine to generate electricity.Uranium-238 is used as a natural way to control the reaction due to the fact that it does not undergo fission. Two other mecha nisms used for controlling the reaction are the plumbago moderator and the control rods, which are made of boron coated steel. The neutrons that are produced when a nucleus splits are very fast(a) moving the graphite slows them down complete so that they cause fission reactions when they collide with Uranium-235 nuclei. The control rods which are made of Boron which absorb neutrons they can be go in and out of the reactor to control the rate of fission reactions. A typical acculturation reaction isBelow is a cross section of the inside of a typical nuclear power plant remarkable advantages of fission include the fact that relatively little fuel is infallible and the fuel is relatively inexpensive and available in trace amounts around the world. Also, it is not believed to contribute to global warming or other contaminant effects associated with fossil fuel combustion. However, its major concerns include the possibility for a nuclear meltdown an example could be the Chernobyl Disaster. Also, waste products can be used to manufacture weapons waste from plutonium power post frame monstrous for thousands of years.There is also high initial cost because the plant requires containment safeguards even then, the power plants are still vulnerable from sabotage and attacks. Nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple atomic particles join unneurotic to form a heavier nucleus. It is accompanied by the release or absorption of energy. The fusion of two nuclei lighter than iron or nickel loosely releases energy. Below is an example of a fusion reaction Excess energy is released from the fusion reaction because of the lower binding energy of the helium nuclei compared to those in deuterium and tritium.The combined mass of the products is less than the mass of the reactants the lost mass is converted to energy, according to Einsteins equation E=mc2 For the below reaction to occur the particles need to form a high-density, super hot, ionise gas blood plasm a. 2H + 3H i 4He + 1n Tritium is produced by using lithium in the reactor, where neutrons from the deuterium-tritium reaction in the plasma will react with the lithium to produce more tritium 6Li + 1n i 4He + 3H A way to control the plasma is to keep it outside(a) from the walls, which minimizes heat loss. To do this a tokamak is used.This device contains hot plasma in a doughnut shape within a vacuum vas. stiff magnetic fields created by large coils that run around the vessel keep the plasma away from the walls. Powerful electric currents heat the plasma as well as by microwaves that are directed into it and beams of fast neutron particles. Notable advantages to using nuclear fusion include the fact that in that respect is significantly less chance of a fatal accident occurring than that of a fission reactor, because the fuel contained in the reaction chamber is only enough to sustain the reaction for about a minute.Also, Deuterium and tritium are well-nigh inexhaustible. Unli ke fission reactors, whose waste remains dangerous for thousands of years, most of the radioactive material in a fusion reactor would remain dangerous for about 50-100 years. At present the disadvantage is merely the fact that scientists mystify not yet been able to contain a fusion reaction long enough for there to be a net energy gain. This is, in turn, causing many countries to phase out fusion seek because of the failure to reach a breakthrough. Challenges to the future of fusion power stations The main challenge that scientists face is the growth of hydrocarbon movie houses.Where plasma touches the walls, carbon tiles are eroded by deuterium and tritium ions, producing hydrocarbons. Further reactions result in the shaping of reactive radicals, which combine with each other to form hydrocarbon films. These films cause problems because they pin the tritium and deuterium fuel ions in the walls of the device so that they are not circulating in the reacting plasma to produce an y energy. Also if the film gets thicker, it begins to flake off, resulting in dust particles which can be absorbed into the plasma, bear on its purity and performance.Other issues include the potentially prohibitive costs of building, and the difficulties of repairing and maintaining the reaction vessel. This massive blanket of lithium and rare metals will degrade and come radioactive over time, requiring regular dismantling and replacement.No. Words 357+368+294+one hundred forty-five = 1164 (excluding equations, titles, annotations and text in diagrams) sorrySources http//www. answers. com/topic/nucleosynthesis? cat=technology Nucleosynthesis http//helios. gsfc. nasa. gov/nucleo. hypertext mark-up language Nucleosynthesis http//physics. bu. edu/py106/notes/RadioactiveDecay.html Alpha and beta equations http//map. gsfc. nasa. gov/universe/bb_tests_ele. html Nucleosynthesis http//chemed. chem. purdue. edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch23/modes. php.Alpha and Beta decay http//medi a. nasaexplores. com/lessons/01-060/images/Uran235. jpg Fission of uranium-235 http//hyperphysics. phy-astr. gsu. edu/Hbase/nucene/fusion. html Nuclear fusion http//www. iter-india. res. in/images/jet_tokamak. jpg.Tokamak image, Fig 5 http//www. newscientist. com/channel/fundamentals/dn8827-no-future-for-fusion-power-says-top-scientist. html Problems for fusion power http//eazyvg. linuxoss.com/2007/08/21/fusion-is-the-future-choice-for-nuclear-power-generation/ Fission and fusion diagrams, advantages and disadvantages of fission and fusion.Fig 1 and 3 http//www. physlink. com/Education/AskExperts/ae534. cfm fastening energy per nucleon, Fig 5 clause 1 Box 1 pg3 Article 1 Second paragraph under Nuclear fission pg4-5 Article 1 Box 2 Used for finding out control mechanisms pg6 Article 2 Advantages of fusion power, ways it produces energy pg8 Article 2 Box 2 Lithium generation and equations pg9 Article 2 Box 2 Fusion reactions pg10 Article 2 Tokamak, problems facin g scientists pg10.