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Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy. In order to produce energy, an atom must lose mass. 1.  Nuclear reaction releases 1 million times more energy than chemical reaction 2.  Atoms before iron will undergo fusion to produce energy 3.  Atoms after iron will undergo fission to produce energy

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Nuclear Energy

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  1. Nuclear Energy In order to produce energy, an atom must lose mass. 1.  Nuclear reaction releases 1 million times more energy than chemical reaction 2.  Atoms before iron will undergo fusion to produce energy 3.  Atoms after iron will undergo fission to produce energy 4.  Iron is the “nuclear sink”  It will not undergo fusion or fission.

  2. Nuclear Energy: Fission 1.  Splitting of one atom into two smaller atoms 2.  advantage- can do it now 3.  disadvantage-fuel hard to get and produces waste products that are radioactive 4.  Chain reaction       a.  reaction continues because an ejected particle form the original reaction can split more nuclei       b.  critical mass-minimum volume of fissional material necessary to keep a chain reaction going 5.  Nuclear power plants       a.  produce electricity  (nearly 20% of U.S. needs; 110 plants)       b.  produce heat to boil water to make steam to turn turbines       c.  parts            1.  fuel rods-pellets of uranium dioxide            2.  control rods-absorb neutrons to control rate of reaction            3.  moderator-slows down high-speed neutrons            4.  generator-produces electricity            5.  cooling system-cools steam

  3. Nuclear Energy: Fusion 1.  involves formation of a new, more massive atom by forcing two less-massive nuclei to combine 2.  powers the sun and stars 3.  advantage-produces little waste and fuel is readily available 4.  disadvantage- can’t do it on large scale yet 5.  energy released is enormous and can be calculated using Einstein’s theory of relativity   E  =   mc2

  4. Benefits of Nuclear Chemistry 1.  Energy source 2.  Tracer studies - isotopes used to trace systems      a.  medicine - find and treat diseases b.  petroleum pipelines      c.  agriculture 3.  Irradiation - sterilization      a.  medicine      b.  food - prevent spoilage

  5. Risks of Nuclear Chemistry 1.  4 possible biological effects       a.  radiation can pass through with no damage to cells       b.  radiation can pass through with damage which the cells repair       c.  radiation can pass through with damage that the cells cannot repair       d.  radiation can kill the cells 2.  Exposure       a.  fallout from nuclear weapons testing       b.  increased exposure to cosmic radiation during air travel       c.  radioisotopes released into the environment from nuclear power and other nuclear technologies 3.  Nuclear wastes 

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