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Chapter 21: Problem 33

Why are nuclear transmutations involving neutrons generally easier to accomplish than those involving protons or alpha particles?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Nuclear transmutations involving neutrons are generally easier to accomplish than those involving protons or alpha particles due to the absence of electrostatic repulsion, lower energy requirements, and the ability of neutrons to easily interact with other particles in the nucleus. Neutrons, being uncharged, do not experience repulsion when approaching the nucleus, allowing for penetration at lower kinetic energies and easier interaction with protons and neutrons, leading to nuclear transmutations.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Electrostatic Repulsion

In the case of protons and alpha particles, both consist of positively charged particles. As a result, when trying to bring them towards the nucleus, they experience significant electrostatic repulsion from the existing positive charge within the nucleus. This repulsion makes it difficult for these particles to get close enough to initiate a nuclear reaction. On the other hand, neutrons have no electric charge. This means that neutrons do not experience any electrostatic repulsion when approaching the nucleus, making it easier for them to be absorbed by the nucleus and trigger a nuclear transmutation.
02

Energy Requirements

The energy requirements for nuclear transmutations involving neutrons are generally lower than those involving protons or alpha particles. This is primarily due to the absence of electrostatic repulsion for neutrons. As a result, neutrons can penetrate the nucleus at lower kinetic energies and still initiate a nuclear reaction. On the other hand, protons and alpha particles need to overcome the electrostatic repulsion, requiring higher kinetic energies to get close enough to the nucleus.
03

Interaction with Other Particles

Neutrons can easily interact with other particles in the nucleus, such as protons and other neutrons, due to the strong nuclear force. When a neutron is added to the nucleus, it can cause the protons and neutrons to rearrange themselves in the nucleus to form a new element. This rearrangement leads to a nuclear transmutation. In contrast, protons and alpha particles need to overcome the electrostatic repulsion to get close enough to interact with other particles in the nucleus. Additionally, the introduction of additional protons can lead to instability in the nucleus, making it more challenging to achieve a stable transmutation.
04

Conclusion

Nuclear transmutations involving neutrons are generally easier to accomplish than those involving protons or alpha particles. This is because neutrons do not experience electrostatic repulsion when approaching the nucleus, have lower energy requirements for reactions, and can easily interact with other particles in the nucleus to cause a nuclear transmutation.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

How much energy must be supplied to break a single \({ }^{21} \mathrm{Ne}\) nucleus into separated protons and neutrons if the nucleus has a mass of \(20.98846\) amu? What is the nuclear binding energy for \(1 \mathrm{~mol}\) of \({ }^{21} \mathrm{Ne}\) ?

Some watch dials are coated with a phosphor, like ZnS, and a polymer in which some of the \({ }^{1} \mathrm{H}\) atoms have been replaced by \({ }^{3} \mathrm{H}\) atoms, tritium. The phosphor emits light when struck by the beta particle from the tritium decay, causing the dials to glow in the dark. The half-life of tritium is \(12.3 \mathrm{yr}\). If the light given off is assumed to be directly proportional to the amount of tritium, by how much will a dial be dimmed in a watch that is 50 yr old?

(a) Which of the following are required characteristics of an isotope to be used as a fuel in a nuclear power reactor? (i) It must emit gamma radiation. (ii) On decay, it must release two or more neutrons. (iii) It must have a half-life less than one hour. (iv) It must undergo fission upon the absorption of a neutron. (b) What is the most common fissionable isotope in a commercial nuclear power reactor?

Cobalt-60 is a strong gamma emitter that has a half-life of \(5.26 \mathrm{yr}\). The cobalt- 60 in a radiotherapy unit must be replaced when its radioactivity falls to \(75 \%\) of the original sample. If an original sample was purchased in June 2013, when will it be necessary to replace the cobalt-60?

The nuclear masses of \({ }^{7} \mathrm{Be},{ }^{9} \mathrm{Be}\), and \({ }^{10} \mathrm{Be}\) are \(7.0147,9.0100\), and 10.0113 amu, respectively. Which of these nuclei has the largest binding energy per nucleon?
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