Chemistry in Context
Chemistry in Context
8th Edition
ISBN: 9780073522975
Author: American Chemical Society
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
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Chapter 7, Problem 23Q

(a)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Is Depleted Uranium (DU) is radioactive or not has to be explained.

Concept introduction:

Enriched uranium is used as fuel in both nuclear power plants and atom bombs. Enriched uranium is that uranium having higher percentage of U-235 about 0.7% compared to the naturally occurring one.

Depleted uranium (DU) arises mainly as a by-product during the production of enriched uranium. That is, DU is the one that remains after the removal of radioactive isotope U-235. So, depleted uranium is mainly composed U-238 (~99.8%).

An unstable radioactive nucleus stabilizes through the emission of radiation. The emitted radiation can be in the form of alpha, beta or gamma radiations.

An alpha radiation is equivalent to a helium nucleus, so during alpha emission a helium nucleus will be send out of the nucleus resulting a decrease in atomic number 2 and mass number 4 for the parent nucleus.

A beta radiation emission is similar to the emission of an electron. Therefore, during beta emission the mass number of parent nucleus will be increased by one and proton number will remain unaffected. This is because during beta emission one neutron from parent nucleus is converting to proton.

Elements with large neutron-proton ratio will be unstable so they will undergo nuclear fission reaction in order to stabilize. During fission the large unstable nucleus will be converted to smaller nuclei with less neutron- proton ratio by emitting radiations.

(b)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Is Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) radioactive or not has to be explained.

Concept introduction:

Spent Nuclear Fuel, which may also called Used Nuclear Fuel, is the radioactive material that remains in a nuclear reactor after power production.

Elements with large neutron-proton ratio will be unstable so they will undergo nuclear fission reaction in order to stabilize. During fission the large unstable nucleus will be converted to smaller nuclei with less neutron- proton ratio by emitting radiations.

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Chemistry in Context

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