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What is the nuclear equation for the alpha decay of uranium 239?
Uranium-239 does NOT decay by alpha decay, it decays only by beta and gammadecay.
What is the alpha decay of plutonium 239?
The daughter isotope of Pu-239 is U-235.
What is the difference between nuclear decay and nuclear fission?
Nuclear decay is any spontaneous process where unstable nuclei release extra energy to arrive at a more stable state. Typical decay processes are Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Some large unstable nuclei (e.g. Plutonium-240) can sometimes decay by spontaneous fission.Nuclear fission is a process where certain large nuclei (e.g. Uranium-235 & Plutonium-239) absorb a neutron and then split into two smaller nuclei and a few free neutrons. Some large unstable nuclei (e.g. Plutonium-240) don't need to be hit by a neutron to fission.Nuclear fusion is a process where small nuclei under unusual conditions of very high temperature and very high pressure combine to form larger nuclei.All three processes above are exothermic.In stars nuclear fusion stops at nickel and iron (further fusion past this would be endothermic). If all we had was the above processes then that would be where the periodic table ended (therefore there could not be nuclear fission as such heavy nuclei could not exist). However stars die, and some die so spectacularly we call them supernovas.When a supernova occurs, an intense shock wave blows all the outer layers of the star away at very high velocity. At these velocities nuclei collide so hard that normally impossible endothermic nuclear fusion reactions occur. The rest of the periodic table is filled here, including many transuranics not found naturally on earth (e.g. Americium, Californium, Berkelium).
What would Americium transmute into if it expelled an alpha particle?
For example americium-241 decay to neptunium-237 and americium-243 decay to neptunium-239.
Are Nuclear wastes non biodegradable?
Actually, they are biodegradeable, sort of. Radioactive materials do decay, or become weaker over time. Eventually they become inert, or non-radioactive. The problem is some radioactive isotopes take tens or even hundreds of thousands or millions of years to decay. The decay rate of a radioactive element is measured in half-lives. After one half-life, half of the radioctivity is gone. Take an element with a half-life of ten years. After ten years, there is half of the radioactivity present. After 20 years, one quarter, after 30 years, one eighth, and so forth. Eventually the level will fall to the point it poses no danger. Plutonium-239 has a half-life of 24,000 years. Uranium-235, used in nuclear reactors, has a half-life of 713,000,000 years.
What is the nuclear equation for the alpha decay of uranium 239?
Uranium-239 does NOT decay by alpha decay, it decays only by beta and gammadecay.
What is the Balanced nuclear equation for uranium 238 to plutonium 241?
U-238 undergoes neutron capture to form U-239 which decays to Np-239 and further to Pu-239. Pu-239 then undergoes beta decay to form Pu-241. The balanced nuclear equation is: U-238 + n --> U-239 --> Np-239 --> Pu-239 --> Pu-241.
What is the product of alpha decay?
plutonium-239
To what does plutonium-239 decay when it loses an alpha particle?
When plutonium-239 loses an alpha particle through decay, it transforms into uranium-235.
How is uranium-238 converted to plutonium-239?
Uranium-238 is converted to plutonium-239 through a process called nuclear transmutation. This typically involves bombarding uranium-238 with neutrons in a controlled environment, such as a nuclear reactor. The uranium-238 absorbs a neutron and undergoes a series of nuclear reactions, eventually transforming into plutonium-239.
What kind of reactor produces plutonium 239?
A breeder reactor is capable of producing plutonium-239 through the absorption of neutrons by uranium-238. Plutonium-239 is a key fissile material used in nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors.
What is the alpha decay of plutonium 239?
The daughter isotope of Pu-239 is U-235.
How is Plutonium for atomic weapons currently obtained?
Plutonium for nuclear weapons is obtained in special nuclear reactors for plutonium-239.
What is plutoniums most common isotope?
Plutonium-239 is the most common isotope of plutonium. It is used in nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors due to its ability to undergo fission.
What is the Plutonium isotope composition of a nuclear bomb?
Typically, a nuclear bomb would use plutonium-239 as the primary isotope for fission. Plutonium-239 is preferred due to its high fissionability and ease of obtaining through processing in nuclear reactors. Small amounts of other plutonium isotopes, such as plutonium-240, may also be present due to the manufacturing process, but the majority would be plutonium-239.
Why do you get plutonium in nuclear power stations?
Plutonium is a natural byproduct of nuclear fission. Take U-238 and add a neutron, giving you U-239. Then there is beta- decay with a half-life of 23.5 minutes giving you NP-239. Then there is another beta- decay with a half-life of 2.36 days giving you Pu-239. There are other pathways and processes. For more information, please see the Related Link below.
How made it plutonium?
Plutonium is obtained in nuclear reactors:U-238(n,gamma).................U-239(beta)...................Np-239(beta).................Pu-239
