Topicm4e0b8208a65576a5_1528449000663_0Topic

Nuclear reactions

Levelm4e0b8208a65576a5_1528449084556_0Level

Third

Core curriculumm4e0b8208a65576a5_1528449076687_0Core curriculum

XI. Nuclear physics. The student:

6) applies the principle of energy conservation to the description of nuclear reactions; uses the terms binding energy and mass defect; calculates these quantities for any isotope.

Timingm4e0b8208a65576a5_1528449068082_0Timing

45 minutes

General learning objectivesm4e0b8208a65576a5_1528449523725_0General learning objectives

Explain what nuclear reactionnuclear reactionnuclear reaction is.

Key competencesm4e0b8208a65576a5_1528449552113_0Key competences

1. Write the balanced nuclear equation for a given reaction.

2. Describe different types of nuclear reaction.

Operational (detailed) goalsm4e0b8208a65576a5_1528450430307_0Operational (detailed) goals

The student:

- describes what nuclear reaction is,

- uses the balanced equations to description of nuclear reaction.

Methodsm4e0b8208a65576a5_1528449534267_0Methods

1. Discussion.

2. Text analysis.

Forms of workm4e0b8208a65576a5_1528449514617_0Forms of work

1. Indywidual work.

2. Group work.

Lesson stages

Introductionm4e0b8208a65576a5_1528450127855_0Introduction

The teacher initiates the discussion.

How do we describe the radioactive decay using the equation? What should you pay attention to obtain a correct equation?

Procedurem4e0b8208a65576a5_1528446435040_0Procedure

The teacher introduces the concept of nuclear reactions.

Nuclear reactionnuclear reactionNuclear reaction:
In radioactive decay a single nucleusnucleusnucleus breaks into two parts. In other nuclear processes, in which two nuclei or nuclear particles collide, different products than the initial particles are produced. This process is called a nuclear reaction.

In a radioactive decay, the transformation is spontaneousspontaneousspontaneous, while in a nuclear reaction, it is initiated by the collision.

If the particles collide and separate without changing, the process is called an elastic collision rather than a reaction.

[Interactive graphics]

Nuclear equation:
nuclear reactionnuclear reactionnuclear reaction similarly to nuclear decays can be represented by a balanced equationbalanced equationbalanced equation:

a+Xb+Y

where:
X – targed nucleus;
a – bombarding particle (projectile);
Y – final nucleus;
b – produced particle (ejectile).

Sometimes a short notation is used:

A(a,b)Y

As a result of a nuclear reaction, another nucleus is formed in the ground or excited state. The excited state is a short‑term intermediate state, after which the nucleus returns to the ground state. This process is accompanied by particle or radiation emission. When the product nucleusnucleusnucleus is in the excited state, this is indicated by placing an asterisk next to its symbol:

a+XY*b+Y

In all nuclear processes, the following quantities are conserved:

- Mass number.
- Atomic number (charge).
- Mass‑energy.
- Momentum.

Example:

Lithium Li36 and deuterium H12 collide and form the excited intermediate nucleusnucleusnucleus of beryllium Be48. The excited berilium nucleus decays immediately into two alpha particles:

Li36+H12B48e2H24e

The total atomic number and mass number on both sides of the equation are equal.

[Illustration 1]

In nuclear reactions the energy is either produced or must be delivered. In the reaction equation the energy Q is given on the right side of the equation:

a+Xb+Y+Q

For the lithium‑deuterium reaction discussed above, the reaction energy is Q = 22,4 MeV.

Hence:

Li36+H122H24e+22,4MeV

The reaction energy Q is positive for exothermal reactions and negative for endothermal reactions. The energy can be delivered by accelerating the bombarding particle or obtained in form of ejectile emission and recoil of final nucleusnucleusnucleus.

Task 1

Write the balanced nuclear equation for the process:

A1327l(n,a)N1124a

Answer:

A1327l+n01H24e+N1124a

Nuclear transmutations:
Nuclear transmutationnuclear transmutationNuclear transmutation is an artificial method of the conversion of one element or an isotope into another.

In the first transmutation experiment, conducted by Rutherford in 1919, three nucleons from the helium nucleus get transferred and the oxygen was formed:

H24e+N714F918*O817+p11

Before the stable nucleusnucleusnucleus of the O817 oxygen is formed, an unstable F918* fluorine nucleus forms, which breaks down and ejects the proton.

The neutron was discovered by Chadwick in 1932. He bombarded the beryllium with helium particles and in the reaction carbon and neutron were produced:

H24e+B49eC612+n01

Other nuclear reactions:
Nuclear reactions can be used to generate electricity. In nuclear reactors or power plants the nuclear reaction called nuclear fission (splitting of atomic nuclei) is conducted under control and energy produced during the reaction is used to generate electricity.
In the Sun, the nuclear reaction which occurs is called the proton‑proton cycle. In the proton‑proton cycle four hydrogen atoms are involved in a series of reactions and form one helium atom. In this chain of reactions energy is produced in the form of gamma rays and particles called neutrinos.
m4e0b8208a65576a5_1527752256679_0Nuclear reactions can be used to generate electricity. In nuclear reactors or power plants the nuclear reaction called nuclear fission (splitting of atomic nuclei) is conducted under control and energy produced during the reaction is used to generate electricity.
In the Sun, the nuclear reaction which occurs is called the proton‑proton cycle. In the proton‑proton cycle four hydrogen atoms are involved in a series of reactions and form one helium atom. In this chain of reactions energy is produced in the form of gamma rays and particles called neutrinos.

Periodic table and heavy nuclei:
The most massive naturally occurring element on Earth is uranium U, with a nucleus of 92 protons. All the elements with Z > 92, are called the transuranium elements. However, the study of nuclear reactions led to the conclusion that there are even heavier nuclei. In 1934, scientists started the search for more massive elements with 93 or more protons. At present, the periodic table has 118 confirmed elements.m4e0b8208a65576a5_1527752263647_0The most massive naturally occurring element on Earth is uranium U, with a nucleus of 92 protons. All the elements with Z > 92, are called the transuranium elements. However, the study of nuclear reactions led to the conclusion that there are even heavier nuclei. In 1934, scientists started the search for more massive elements with 93 or more protons. At present, the periodic table has 118 confirmed elements.

Task 2

Plutonium P94239u can be produced by bombarding uranium U92238 with alpha particles. How many neutrons will be produced as a by‑product of each reaction? Write the corresponding nuclear reaction.

Answer:

U92238+H24eP94239u+3n01

Lesson summarym4e0b8208a65576a5_1528450119332_0Lesson summary

The nuclear reactionnuclear reactionnuclear reaction is a process, in which two nuclei or nuclear particles collide and different products than the initial particles are produced.  

Selected words and expressions used in the lesson plan

nuclear reactionnuclear reactionnuclear reaction

nuclear transmutationnuclear transmutationnuclear transmutation

spontaneousspontaneousspontaneous

periodic tableperiodic tableperiodic table

balanced equationbalanced equationbalanced equation

fissionfissionfission

nucleusnucleusnucleus

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nuclear reaction1
nuclear reaction

reakcja jądrowa

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nucleus

jądro

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spontaneous

spontaniczny

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wymowa w języku angielskim: spontaneous
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balanced equation

równanie zbilansowane

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nuclear transmutation

transmutacja jądrowa 

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wymowa w języku angielskim: nuclear transmutation
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periodic table

układ okresowy

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wymowa w języku angielskim: periodic table
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fission

rozszczepienie

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wymowa w języku angielskim: fission