The uranium isotope 235U can fission—break into two smaller-masscomponents and free neutrons—if it is struck by a free neutron. A typical reaction is 1/0n + 235/92U → 141/56Ba + 92/36Kr + 3/1/0nAs you can see, the subscripts (the number of protons) and the superscripts (the number of nucleons) “balance” before and after the fission event; there is no change in the number of protons or neutrons. Significant energy is released in this reaction. If a fission event happens in a large chunk of 235U, the neutrons released may induce the fission of other 235U atoms, resulting in a chain reaction. This is how a nuclear reactor works. The number of neutrons required to create a stable nucleus increases with atomic number. When the heavy 235U nucleus fissions, the lighter reaction products are thus neutron rich and are likely unstable. Many of the short-lived radioactive nuclei used in medicine are produced in fission reactions in nuclear reactors. 235U is radioactive, with a long half-life of 704 million years. The decay products of a 235U fission reaction typically have half-lives of a few minutes. This means that the decay products of a fission reaction haveA. Much higher activity than the original uranium.B. Much lower activity than the original uranium.C. The same activity as the original uranium.
The uranium isotope 235U can fission—break into two smaller-mass
components and free neutrons—if it is struck by a free neutron. A typical reaction is
1/0n + 235/92U → 141/56Ba + 92/36Kr + 3/1/0n
As you can see, the subscripts (the number of protons) and the superscripts (the number of nucleons) “balance” before and after the fission event; there is no change in the number of protons or neutrons. Significant energy is released in this reaction. If a fission event happens in a large chunk of 235U, the neutrons released may induce the fission of other 235U atoms, resulting in a chain reaction. This is how a nuclear reactor works. The number of neutrons required to create a stable nucleus increases with atomic number. When the heavy 235U nucleus fissions, the lighter reaction products are thus neutron rich and are likely unstable. Many of the short-lived radioactive nuclei used in medicine are produced in fission reactions in nuclear reactors.
235U is radioactive, with a long half-life of 704 million years. The decay products of a 235U fission reaction typically have half-lives of a few minutes. This means that the decay products of a fission reaction have
A. Much higher activity than the original uranium.
B. Much lower activity than the original uranium.
C. The same activity as the original uranium.
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