. Plutonium-239 is the fissionable isotope produced in breeder reactors; it is also produced in ordinary nuclear plants and in weapons tests. It is an extremely poisonous substance with a half-life of 24,100 years.(a) Write an equation for the decay of 239Pu via alpha emission.(b) The atomic mass of 239Pu is 239.05216 u and that of 235U is 235.04393 u. Calculate the energy released per 239Pu atom, in MeV, in decaying via alpha emission.(c) What will be the initial activity, in disintegrations per second, of 1.00 g of 239Pu buried in a disposal site for radioactive wastes?(d) What activity will the material from part (c) showafter 100,000 years?

Chemistry
10th Edition
ISBN:9781305957404
Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Publisher:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Chapter1: Chemical Foundations
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RQ: Define and explain the differences between the following terms. a. law and theory b. theory and...
icon
Related questions
Question

. Plutonium-239 is the fissionable isotope produced in breeder reactors; it is also produced in ordinary nuclear plants and in weapons tests. It is an extremely poisonous substance with a half-life of 24,100 years.
(a) Write an equation for the decay of 239Pu via alpha emission.
(b) The atomic mass of 239Pu is 239.05216 u and that of 235U is 235.04393 u. Calculate the energy released per 239Pu atom, in MeV, in decaying via alpha emission.
(c) What will be the initial activity, in disintegrations per second, of 1.00 g of 239Pu buried in a disposal site for radioactive wastes?
(d) What activity will the material from part (c) show
after 100,000 years?

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Nuclear Reactions
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, chemistry and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781305957404
Author:
Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781259911156
Author:
Raymond Chang Dr., Jason Overby Professor
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Principles of Instrumental Analysis
Principles of Instrumental Analysis
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781305577213
Author:
Douglas A. Skoog, F. James Holler, Stanley R. Crouch
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Chemistry
ISBN:
9780078021558
Author:
Janice Gorzynski Smith Dr.
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Chemistry: Principles and Reactions
Chemistry: Principles and Reactions
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781305079373
Author:
William L. Masterton, Cecile N. Hurley
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, Bind…
Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, Bind…
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781118431221
Author:
Richard M. Felder, Ronald W. Rousseau, Lisa G. Bullard
Publisher:
WILEY