Chain reaction

A reaction that is self sustaining as a result of the

products of one step initiating a subsequent step.
In nuclear chain reactions the succession depends
on the production and capture of neutrons.
Thus, one nucleus of isotope uranium-235 can
disintegrate with production of two or three
neutrons, which cause similar fission of adjacent
nuclei. These in turn produce more neutrons which
go off and split other uranium atom - and so on.

LESSON 4 - Understanding
nuclear energy.
Atomic mass unit (a.m.u.)
The atomic mass unit (u) is the unit of mass for
atoms and subatomic particles such as the proton,
neutron and electron.
1 a.m.u or 1 u is 1 of the mass of the
12
carbon-12 atom.
1 u = 1.66 x 10-27 kg
Example 1
The mass of an atom Cobalt-60 is 59.933820 u.
What is the mass of the atom in kilogram?

Nuclear Fission
Nuclear fission is the splitting of a heavy nucleus
into two lighter nuclei, which subsequently emit
either two or three neutrons and release of large
amounts of energy.
The example of a nuclear fission is shown as follow:

A controlled chain reaction is used in nuclear power

stations while an uncontrolled chain reaction is
used in nuclear bombs.
Critical mass
The minimum mass of fission material that will
sustain a nuclear chain reaction.
For example , when a nucleus of uranium-235
disintegrates two or three neutrons are released in
the process, each of which is capable of causing
another nucleus to disintegrate , so creating a chain
reaction. However, in a mass of U-235 less than the
critical mass, too many neutrons escape from the
surface of the material without hitting , preventing a
chain reaction from happening.

When a uranium-235 is bombarded by a neutron , it

is split into two fission fragments (Kripton-131 and
Barium-142 ) and three free neutrons.
Another example of nuclear fission is :

35

Nuclear Energy
According to Albert Einstein, In a nuclear reaction
(nuclear fission and fusion) neither mass nor energy
are conserved separately but they can exchanged
one for the other and only the mass-energy is
conserved. A loss of mass means that the mass has
changed to energy.
The relationship between the mass and the energy
is given by the equation:

E = mc2
In the atom bomb, therefore, two or more subcritical masses have to brought together to make a
mass in excess of the critical mass before the bomb
will explode.

Where E = energy released

m= loss of mass or mass defect
c = speed of light = 3 x 108 ms-1

Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is the combining of two lighter nuclei
to form a heavier nucleus with the release of large
amount of energy.
The example of a nuclear fusion is shown as follow:

Example 2
Polonium-210 undergoes alpha decay to become
plumbum-206 . The equation for the decay is:
210

206

Po Pb + He + energy
82

84

Additional information:

Nuclear fusion is believed to be process by which

energy is released by the Sun. When two
hydrogen-2 nuclei moving at high speed collide,
they can join together to produce a heavier
nucleus. A large amount of energy is released.
The temperature of a gas must be high giving a
high average kinetic energy. Due to the requirement
of high temperature, nuclear fusion is also known
as a thermonuclear reaction.
Hydrogen bombs are made following the principle
of nuclear fusion.
Another example of nuclear fusion is :

Mass Po = 209.982 u
Mass Pb = 205.969 u
Mass He = 4.004 u
1 u = 1.66 x 10-27kg
c = 3 x 108 ms-1
Using the equation and the information above ,
calculate
(a) The mass defect
(b) The energy released
(c) The power generated in 2 ms

36

Generation of electricity from nuclear energy

Nuclear Power Station

The pros and cons of using nuclear fission to

generate electricity
Nuclear power is controversial. Here are some
arguments for and against using nuclear power
station to generate electricity.

1. Nuclear power provides cheaper electricity

than any other method because the
nuclear power stations need less fuel than
stations which use fossil fuels.
The price of nuclear fuel is more stable
than fossil fuels.
Vast reserves of nuclear fuel in the world.

The energy released from nuclear fission can be

used to generate electricity. A nuclear power station
consists two main components:
(a) Nuclear reactor
(b) Generator
The main components of nuclear reactor :
Component
Function
Graphite core Acts as moderator to slow down
the fast neutrons produced by the
fission.
In some nuclear power plant, the
moderator is water.
Uranium rod
To produce nuclear power when
(fuel)
the fission reactions occur in the
uranium rod
Boron control To control the rate of fission
rod
reaction.
The control rods are lowered into
the reactor core to absorb some of
the neutrons and thus reduce the
rate of the fission reaction.
Sometimes the rod is made of
cadmium
Coolant
To take away heat from the
nuclear reactor.
Heavy water and carbon dioxide
are used as coolant because they
have high specific heat capacity.
Concrete
To prevent leakage of radiation
shield
from the reactor core
The main components of generator :
Component
Function
Steam
To change water into steam when
generator
the water in the generator is
heated.
The steam then drives the turbines
Turbine
To turn the coils in the dynamo in
the electrical generator to produce
electricity

2. Safety procedures in the administration of

nuclear reactors are very advanced and
safe.
Workers in nuclear power stations are at
less risk than those in other energy
industries. Many people have been killed
in accidents in coal mining and oil rigs;
very few comparable accidents have
occurred in nuclear power stations.
3. Nuclear power is clean because produces
less waste than fossil fuels.
Burning fossil fuels in power stations does
more damage to the environment than
nuclear power stations. One of the major
causes of acid rain is the sulphur dioxide
and nitrogen dioxides released from
burning coal in power stations.
So nuclear power does not add to the
greenhouse effect.
4. Produces useful radioisotopes as byproducts that can be used in industry,
medicine, agriculture and research.

1. The initial cost to design and build a

nuclear power station is very high.
Used fuel rods are very hot and highly
radioactive with very long halve-lives.
Expensive procedures are required to
cool down the rods and store them.

37

2. There is always a risk of accidents. If

something goes wrong with a nuclear
power station , it is very much more
serious than an accident at a
conventional power station. The effects
cross national boundaries and can be felt
many hundreds of kilometers away.
The hot water discharged from the
nuclear power stations can be caused
thermal pollution.
People who work in the nuclear power
station and those living nearby may be
exposed to excessive radiations.

Which nuclear reaction is taking place?

A Fission of hydrogen
B Fusion of hydrogen
C Fission of uranium
D Fusion of uranium

The arguments about nuclear power do not lead to

any clear conclusion. It is not the sort of question
which can be resolved and answered by simply
looking at the facts. For some people one of these
points is so important that it outweighs all the
others. No one can simply weigh up all the
evidence and arrive at the right decision. There will
always be room for discussion and argument.

It is possible for a chain reaction to occur in

nuclear fission because
A new neutrons are produced
B two fission fragments are produced
C a large amount of energy is released
D fission does not require a very high
temperature

In a nuclear reactor , the neutrons produced

are slowed down by
A Uranium rod
B Graphite core
C Boron control rod

What energy changes take place in a nuclear

power station?
A Heat energy Mechanical energy
Nuclear energy
B Nuclear energy Heat energy
Electrical energy
C Heat energy Nuclear energy
Electrical energy
D Mechanical energy Heat energy
Electrical energy

Which of the following is not true about a

nuclear reactor?
Component
Function
A Control rod To control the rate of fission
reaction.
B Coolant
To take away heat from the
nuclear reactor
C Graphite
To slow down the fast neutrons
core
produced by the fission.
D Concrete
To prevent the radioactive
shield
radiations from atmosphere
entering into the nuclear reactor

Which of the following nuclear reactions is an

example of fission?
2
2
4
A
1H + 1H 2 He + energy

TUTORIAL 4
1

A Uranium-235 nucleus will split when it

captures
A an alpha particle
B a gamma ray
C a neutron
D a proton
Which of the following nuclear reactions is an
example of fusion?
14
0
A 14
6 C 7 N + -1e + energy
2
2
3
0
B
1H + 1H 2 He + -1e +
energy
21
21
C
11Na 12Mg + + energy

D
3

226
88Ra

222
86Rn + + energy

The diagram shows the start of a chain

reaction.

14
7N

214
237
+ energy
94Pu 92U +
239
95
141
92U 38 Sr + 54 Xe +

+ neutron

3 neutrons + energy

38

15
7N

+ energy

10

In the sun, energy is released when hydrogen

nuclei collide and form heavier nuclei. This
process is called
A Ionisation
B Diffusion
C Fission
D Fusion
In which type of nuclear reaction are the nuclei
heavier after the reaction than the were
before?
A
B
C
D

11

- decay
- decay
Nuclear fission
Nuclear fusion

A
B
C
D
12

The mass defect in a nuclear reaction is

2 x 10 -3 kg. What is the released?
[ Speed of light = 3.0 x 10 8 ms-1]
A 1.8 x 10 14 J B 1.8 x 10 17 J
C 1.6 x 10 14 J D 1.6 x 10 17 J
E 1.6 x 10 18 J

16

The mass defect in a nuclear reaction is

0.05 u. What is the released?
[ Speed of light = 3.0 x 10 8 ms-1 ,
1 u = 11.7 x 10 -27 kg ]
A 2.55 x 10 -21J B 5.10 x 10 -19 J
C 3.83 x 10 -13J D 7.65 x 10 -13 J
E 8.97 x 10 -13 J

17

A nuclear reaction is represented by the

following equation:
235
1
141
93
92U + 0 n 55 Cs + 37Rb +
X 01n + energy
The information about the equation is shown
as follow:
Mass of 235
92U = 235.04392 u
Mass of

Atom bomb
Hydrogen bomb
Nuclear reactor

Mass of

B
C
D

= 140.91963 u

(b) Name the nuclear reaction involved.

(c)

What is the meaning of the nuclear

reaction in (b)?
................................................................

XY+Z

.................................................................

Which of the following is correct?

= 1.00867 u

(a) What is the value of X?

Both of the nuclear reactions experience

mass defect
Both of the nuclear reactions produced a
large amount of energy
Both of the nuclear reactions produced
new nuclei
Both of the nuclear reactions require
very high temperature

A nuclear reaction is given by the equation

1
0n
141
55 Cs
93
37Rb

Mass of
= 92.92157 u
1 u = 11.7 x 10 -27 kg
Speed of light = 3.0 x 10 8 ms-1

Which of the following is not the similarity

between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?
A

14

Mass and energy are both created

Energy and mass are both lost
Mass is converted into energy
Energy is converted into mass

Which of the following is made by using the

principle of nuclear fusion.
A
B
C

13

15

hat happen when two nuclei of deuterium (

2
1H ) fuse together to form a nucleus helium
(4
2 He ) ?

The atomic mass of X > The atomic

mass of Y + the atomic mass of Z

(d) State one application of the nuclear

reaction in (b)

The nucleon number of X > The nucleon

number of Y + nucleon number of Z
The proton number of X > The proton
number of Y + proton number of Z

(e) Calculate

39

18

relationship between mass and energy

involved.

(i)

the energy released .

(ii)

the power generated in 5 s.

Table (a) shows an equation of a reaction and

total atomic mass before and after a nuclear
fission.

Equation

(b) Nuclear fission produces a chain reaction.

Describe how the chain reaction happens in a
nuclear fission of an atom of uranium.

Nuclear fission
Before reaction
After reaction
239
1
145
Pu + n
Ba + 93Sr +
94

56

38
1

n + Energy

Total
atomic
mass

240.06082 u

239.85830 u

Table (a)
Table (b) shows an equation of a reaction and
total atomic mass before and after a nuclear
fusion.

Equation

Nuclear fusion
Before reaction
After reaction
2
3
4
H+ H
He + 1n +
1

Total atomic
mass

5.03013 u

Energy
5.01043 u

Table (b)
(a) (i)
(ii)

What is meant by a nuclear fission ?

Using only the information given in
Table(a) and (b), compare nuclear fission
and nuclear fusion. Hence state the

40