Homework 8.1.

5(2)

1. Write the nuclear equation for:

(a) 238U changing to 239U

(b) 239U changing to 239Np

(c) 239Np changing to 239Pu.

2. Barium-142 ( 142 56 Ba) is a possible product of the fission of uranium-236. It decays by

- decay to lanthanum (La) with a half-life of 11months.
(a) Write the equation for the decay of barium.

(b) Estimate how long will it take for the activity of the barium in a sample of radioactive
waste to fall to of its original value.

3. Plutonium-239 splits into zirconium-96 and xenon-136. Use the table to answer the
following questions.

(a) How many neutrons will be emitted?

(b) Write the nuclear equation for the reaction.

(c) How much energy is released when the fission takes place?

(d) What is the mass of 1 mole of plutonium?

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 (e) How many atoms are there in 1 kg of plutonium?

(f) How much energy in eV is released if 1kg of plutonium undergoes fission?

(g) Convert the answer to part (f) into joules.

4. A sample of nuclear fuel contains 3% 235U. If the energy density of 235U is 9 x 1013 J kg-
1
, how much energy will 1kg of fuel release?

5. An individual uses around 10 000 kWh of energy in a year.

(a) How many joules is this?

(b) From your answer to question 4, calculate how much nuclear fuel this amounts
to.

6. This question is about nuclear power production.

(a)The purpose of a nuclear power station is to produce electrical energy from nuclear
energy. The diagram below is a representation of the principal components of a nuclear
reactor pile used in a certain type of nuclear power station that uses uranium as a fuel.

The function of the moderator is to slow down the neutrons produced in a reaction such as
that described above.Explain,

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(i)why it is necessary to slow down the neutrons.

(ii)the function of the control rods.

(b)With reference to the concept of fuel enrichment in a nuclear reactor explain,

(i)the advantage of enriching the uranium used in a nuclear reactor.

(ii)from an international point of view, a possible risk to which fuel enrichment could lead.
.

(e)When a uranium-238 nucleus absorbs a neutron the following reaction can take place.
238
92 U  01 n  239
92 U
The isotope uranium-239 is radioactive and decays with a half-life of 23 minutes to form
an isotope of neptunium-239 (Np-239).

(i)Define radioactive half-life and explain what is meant by an isotope.

Radioactive half-life:

Isotope:

(ii)Complete the reaction equation for this decay.

239
92 U


(iii)The isotope neptunium-239 undergoes radioactive  decay to form an isotope of
plutonium. Outline one advantage and one disadvantage of this decay in relation to nuclear
power production.
Advantage:

Disadvantage:

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7.This question is about power generation in nuclear power stations.

(a)State one example of a renewable source and one example of a non-renewable source of
thermal energy.

Renewable: ....................................................................................................

Non-renewable: ....................................................................................................

(b)The production of electrical energy in a power station involves the conversion of

thermal energy into mechanical energy. The mechanical energy is then converted into
electrical energy. State the means by which the mechanical energy is converted into
electrical energy.

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(c)In a nuclear power station, the source of the thermal energy is nuclear fission. The
diagram below represents the fission of a uranium nucleus in which two neutrons are
produced. (The fission nuclei produced are not shown.)

fissio n
n eu tron

in co m in g
n e u tro n 235
U fissio n
n eu tron

Use the diagram above to describe what is meant by a chain reaction.

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(d)Neutrons that collide with nuclei of uranium-235 can either produce fission of the nuclei
or be captured by the nuclei. Outline, in a nuclear power station, the method used to ensure
that the majority of nuclei colliding with nuclei of uranium-235 produce fission of the
nuclei.

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(e)Outline how the energy liberated in fission is converted into mechanical energy. A
labelled sketch could assist your answer.

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