Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is a type of nuclear reaction. In nuclear fusion, two or more than two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. During this process, an enormous amount of energy is released. This energy is called nuclear energy. Nuclear fusion is the energy source of the sun and stars.
Fusion Bomb
A fusion bomb is also known as a thermonuclear bomb or hydrogen bomb which releases a large amount of explosive energy during a nuclear chain reaction when the lighter nuclei in it, combine to form heavier nuclei, and a large amount of radiation is released. It is an uncontrolled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction where isotopes of hydrogen combine under very high temperature to form helium. They work on the principle of operation of atomic fusion. The isotopes of Hydrogen are deuterium and tritium, where they combine their masses and have greater mass than the product nuclei, get heated at high temperatures, and releases energy.
![## Completing Radioactive Decay Formulas
### Introduction
Radioactive decay is a natural process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation. Understanding how to complete decay formulas is essential in the study of nuclear chemistry and physics.
### Exercises
#### (a) Beta Decay of Boron-12
In beta decay, a neutron is converted into a proton, an electron (beta particle), and an antineutrino. Given the decay process:
\[ \mathrm{^{12}_{5}B} \rightarrow ? + \mathrm{e^{-}} + \bar{\nu} \]
We need to find the missing product in the reaction.
<img src="https://example.com/radioactive-decay-a.png" alt="chempad interface for part (a)">
To solve this:
1. Identify the original nucleus, \(\mathrm{^{12}_{5}B}\).
2. Identify the emitted particles: \(\mathrm{e^{-}}\) and \(\bar{\nu}\).
3. Use the conservation of atomic number and mass number to find the missing nucleus.
#### (b) Alpha Decay of Thorium-234
In alpha decay, an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle (\(\mathrm{^{4}_{2}He}\)), reducing its atomic mass by 4 and its atomic number by 2. Given the decay process:
\[ \mathrm{^{234}_{90}Th} \rightarrow \mathrm{^{230}_{88}Ra} + ? \]
We need to find the missing particle in the reaction.
<img src="https://example.com/radioactive-decay-b.png" alt="chempad interface for part (b)">
To solve this:
1. Identify the original nucleus, \(\mathrm{^{234}_{90}Th}\).
2. Identify the resulting nucleus, \(\mathrm{^{230}_{88}Ra}\).
3. Use the conservation of atomic number and mass number to find the missing particle, typically an alpha particle.
#### (c) Beta Decay Leading to Nitrogen-14
Given the decay process:
\[ ? \rightarrow \mathrm{^{14}_{7}N} + \mathrm{e^{-}} + \bar{\nu} \]
We need to identify the original nucleus.
<img src="https://example.com/radioactive-decay-c.png" alt="chempad interface for part (c)">
To solve this:
1. Identify the](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F9fadd83f-dc8f-4964-83f6-b368fc687621%2F7b148387-5568-4581-9b5e-4cb3f540e492%2Fd0brwus_processed.png&w=3840&q=75)
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