In a nuclear reactor accident, the 137Cs (?1/2 = 30.2 years) nuclide is among the most problematic fission products. The energy released by the B-decay of 137Cs into the stable 137Ba is 1.17 MeV. a) Why is 137Cs considered as one of the most problematic fission products in a reactor accident? Give two reasons.
Radioactive decay
The emission of energy to produce ionizing radiation is known as radioactive decay. Alpha, beta particles, and gamma rays are examples of ionizing radiation that could be released. Radioactive decay happens in radionuclides, which are imbalanced atoms. This periodic table's elements come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Several of these kinds are stable like nitrogen-14, hydrogen-2, and potassium-40, whereas others are not like uranium-238. In nature, one of the most stable phases of an element is usually the most prevalent. Every element, meanwhile, has an unstable state. Unstable variants are radioactive and release ionizing radiation. Certain elements, including uranium, have no stable forms and are constantly radioactive. Radionuclides are elements that release ionizing radiation.
Artificial Radioactivity
The radioactivity can be simply referred to as particle emission from nuclei due to the nuclear instability. There are different types of radiation such as alpha, beta and gamma radiation. Along with these there are different types of decay as well.
In a nuclear reactor accident, the 137Cs (?1/2 = 30.2 years) nuclide is among the most problematic fission products. The energy released by the B-decay of 137Cs into the stable 137Ba is 1.17 MeV.
a) Why is 137Cs considered as one of the most problematic fission products in a reactor accident? Give two reasons.
b)Give two possible ways that 137Cs is produced in a pressurized water reactor. Write down the corresponding equation in each process.
c)What is the percentage of a sample of 137Cs that will decay in one year? [Hint: the lifetime r is related to the half-life ?1/2 by r = ?1/2 ln2 .]
d)If the
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