Plutonium­239 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 half­life 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?

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  1. Plutonium­239 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 half­life 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?

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