Chapter 21: Problem 25
Why are nuclear transmutations involving neutrons generally easier to accomplish than those involving protons or alpha particles?
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Chapter 21: Problem 25
Why are nuclear transmutations involving neutrons generally easier to accomplish than those involving protons or alpha particles?
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Nuclear scientists have synthesized approximately 1600 nuclei not known in nature. More might be discovered with heavy-ion bombardment using high-energy particle accelerators. Complete and balance the following reactions, which involve heavy-ion bombardments: (a) \({ }_{3}^{6} \mathrm{Li}+{ }_{29}^{56} \mathrm{Ni} \rightarrow\) ? (b) \(_{20}^{40} \mathrm{Ca}+{ }_{96}^{248} \mathrm{Cm} \ldots{ }_{62}^{147} \mathrm{Sm}+?\) (c) \(_{38}^{88} \mathrm{Sr}+{ }_{36}^{84} \mathrm{Kr} \ldots{ }_{46} 116 \mathrm{Pd}+?\) (d) \({ }_{20}^{40} \mathrm{Ca}+{ }_{92}^{238} \mathrm{U} \cdots{ } \rightarrow \frac{70}{30} \mathrm{Zn}+4_{0}^{1} \mathrm{n}+2 ?\)
Give the symbol for (a) a proton, (b) a beta particle, (c) a positron.
Write balanced equations for (a) \({ }_{92}^{238} \mathrm{U}(\alpha, \mathrm{n})^{241} \mathrm{Pu}\), (b) \({ }_{7}^{14} \mathrm{~N}(\alpha, \mathrm{p}){ }_{8}^{17} \mathrm{O}\), (c) \({ }_{26}^{56} \mathrm{Fe}(\alpha, \beta)_{29}^{60} \mathrm{Cu}\).
It has been suggested that strontium-90 (generated by nuclear testing) deposited in the hot desert will undergo radioactive decay more rapidly because it will be exposed to much higher average temperatures. (a) Is this a reasonable suggestion? (b) Does the process of radioactive decay have an activation energy, like the Arrhenius behavior of many chemical reactions \(\infty 00(\) Section \(14.5) ?\) Discuss.
A portion of the Sun's energy comes from the reaction $$ 4 \mathrm{l} \mathrm{H} \cdots{ }_{2}^{4} \mathrm{He}+2 \mathrm{le} $$ This reaction requires a temperature of about \(10^{6}\) to \(10^{7} \mathrm{~K}\). (a) Why is such a high temperature required? (b) Is the Sun solid?
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