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fusion
- uses 2 light nuclei
- releases the most energy
- requires a large amount of energy
- used in bombs
- used by the sun
-
fission
- only some elements are fissionable
- chain reaction
- driven by excess neutrons
- releases 2 daughter nuclei and 3 neutrons
- released neutrons can trigger other reactions to take place
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electron capture
- natural decay
- a proton converts to a neutron
- example: C-11 + (0/-1)e = B-11 + neutrino
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beta emission
- a neutron converts to a proton
- example: Th-234 = Pa-234 + (0/-1)e
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positron emission
- a proton converts to a neutron
- example: Ne-19 = (0/+1)e + F-19
-
alpha emission
- large unstable becomes a smaller, more stable nucleus by releasing alpha particles
- example: U-238 = Th-234 + (4/2)a
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transmutation
- not a chemical reaction
- changes what's in the nucleus
- nucleus of one atom converts to the nucleus of another atom
- amount of particles conserved, elements change
-
natural transmutation
- only has one particle on left side
- example: Fr-220 = At-216 + (4/2)a
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artifical transmutation
- 2+ particles on left side
- requires particle to start reaction
- example: N-15 + H-1 = C-12 + (4/2)a
-
gamma decay
- more powerful than x rays
- no mass or charge
- not impacted by electric fields
- Tc-99m = Tc-99 + Y
-
containment vessel
- steel or concrete
- provides shielding from core
-
fuel rods
- located in core
- fissionable sourse of energy
- U-233, U-235, or Pu-239
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moderators
- slow down neutrons
- graphite, beryllium, or heavy water
-
control rods
- regulate fission rate
- absorb neutrons
- cadmium or barium
-
coolant
- heavy water or sodium
- removes heat from core
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heat exchange
produces steam for power production
-
breeder reactors
provide fissionable fuel
-
particle accelerators
- speed up charged particles
- use electric or magnetic fields
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C-12 and C-14
dating previously living organisms
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Co-60
- produces gamma radiation (Y)
- used for treating cancer
-
U-238 and Pb-206
geologic formation dating
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I-131
treating and diagnosing thyroid cancer
-
H-2 and H-3
- radioactive tracers
- determine reaction pathways
-
Tc-99
imaging and diagnostics
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