Nuclear Energy PSA

Mar 2, 2009

Energy Released in these Reactions

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter13.html

How energy is produced in the reaction

In chemical reactions energy is either released in the form of heat to create an exothermic reaction. Energy can also be gained and taken from something else in an endothermic reaction. Nuclear reactions use a larger amout of energy then the chemical reactions to produce fission and fusion. All of the matter in the nucleus of two atoms is combined in fission and creates massive amounts of energy that can be used for electricity or large, explosive bombs. A fusion reaction gives off its energy through heat, light, and other forms of radiation. (Science Clarified, 2009)

C3H8 + 5O2 ---> 4H2O + 3CO2 + energy
(energypropane + oxygen yields water + carbon dioxide + energy)

Mar 1, 2009

Elements and Isotopes

Comparison of elements and their stable isotopes

Elements and their stable and radioactive isotopes all have the same atomic number, which means they also have the same number of protons in their nucleus. Atoms of the same chemical element that have the same atomic number but different atomic masses are called isotopes. Several different isotopes of each chemical element can be found anywhere in nature. A stable isotope means it is not radioactive at all. Twenty elements have one stable isotope, while the rest have two or more. The most stable isotopes any element has is ten. At least 1,000 radioactive isotopes occur in nature, making them more common than stable isotopes. Radioactive isotopes isotopes that can change into another isotope by splitting apart. (Lentech, 2008)

Citations

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(2005, November 29). The First Direct Observation of the Jahn-Teller Distortion in Single Molecules . Retrieved February 24, 2009, from Science@Berkeley Lab Web site: http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/sabl/2005/November/02-buckyballs.html
(2007). Types of Radiation. Retrieved February 25, 2009, from Radiation Answers Web site: http://www.radiationanswers.org/radiation-introduction/types-of-radiation.html
(2007, March 30). ABC's of Nuclear Science. Retrieved February 21, 2009, from Basic Nuclear Science Web site: http://www.lbl.gov/abc/Basic.html
(2009, March 01). What Types of Radiation Are There?. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from Health Physics Society Web site: http://www.hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/radiationtypes.html
AECL, (2006). Medical Isotopes. Retrieved February 25, 2009, from Nuclear Science Web site: http://www.aecl.ca/Science/CRL/NRU/Isotopes.htm
Chapter 13: Nuclear Energy - Fission and Fusion. Retrieved February 23, 2009, from Energy Story Web site: http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter13.html
Curran, G. L. (2004). Lesson 1-6 Energy and Chemical Reactions. Retrieved February 22, 2009, from Science Help Online Chemistry Web site: http://fordhamprep.org/gcurran/sho/sho/lessons/lesson16.htm
Firestone, Richard B. About the Periodic Table of the Isotopes. Retrieved February 21, 2009, Web site: http://ie.lbl.gov/education/info.htm
http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=72203&rendTypeId=35
Isotopes. Retrieved February 23, 2009, from Representing Isotopes, Radioactive Isotopes Web site: http://www.scienceclarified.com/Io-Ma/Isotope.html
Nutritional and Health-Related Environmental Studies. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from Hints and FAQs on Nutritional and Health-Related Environmental Studies Web site: http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nahu/nahres/faqanswers.shtm
What are Fission and Fusion Nuclear Reactions. Retrieved February 21, 2009, from Nuclear Chemistry Web site: http://www.chemcool.com/regents/nuclearchemistry/aim4.htm