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Mysteries of Everyday Materials > Gasoline & Vehicles, Batteries, & Nuclear Power > Flashcards

Gasoline & Vehicles, Batteries, & Nuclear Power Flashcards

1
Q

What are covalent compounds?

A

Are compounds where two non-metals share electrons to achieve a full octet

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2
Q

How are Hydrocarbons named?

A

They are named based on the amount of Carbon atoms they have

1 = Methane
2 = Ethane
3 = Propane
4 = Butane
5 = Pentane
6 = Hexane
7 = Heptane
8 = Octane
9 = Nonane
10 = Decane

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3
Q

How are Lewis Structures created?

A

Only the valence electrons are involved in bonding

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4
Q

How are Octane ratings assigned?

A

Since Octane doesn’t knock, its Octane rating is 100

Heptane however knocks a lot, its Octane rating is 0

A gasoline sample of 87% octane and 13% heptane would give the gasoline a rating of 87%

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5
Q

How is biodiesel made?

A

It’s made from vegetable oils and animal fats

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6
Q

How is carbon monoxide caused?

A

Carbon monoxide is produced from the incomplete combustion of carbon

It’s caused when there is insufficient oxygen, or when the catalytic converter is not working properly

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7
Q

How is hydrocarbon pollution produced?

A

Hydrocarbon pollution is released from burning gasoline if the combustion is incomplete, and there is poor catalytic conversion

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8
Q

How is Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) produced?

A

It is produced during the combustion of fossil fuels (like gasoline) because the reaction temperatures are high enough to oxidize the atmospheric Nitrogen

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9
Q

How is petroleum refined? and what is the process?

A

Petroleum refining is done in a process called fractional distillation

Fractional distillation involves the separation of a liquid mixture into different compounds based on their boiling points/volatility

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10
Q

How to prevent engine knocking?

A

The air-fuel mixture that enters the piston must be a carefully regulated mixture hydrocarbons to ensure there is no engine knocking

The Branched hydrocarbon “octane” has little tendency to knock

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11
Q

What are Catalytic Converters?

A

Catalytic converters are devices built into the automobile exhaust system. It uses catalysts to reduce the emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants

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12
Q

What are Octane Ratings?

A

Octane ratings is a measure of how well the the fuel doesn’t knock

For example: Gasoline with higher octane rating (Octane 93) tend to knock less than gasoline with lower octane rating (Octane 89)

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13
Q

What are the three Impacts of Climate Change?

A
  1. Increased flooding
  2. Increased drought
  3. More frequent and more intense hurricanes
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14
Q

What are the three results if humans are exposed to Nitrogen Oxide (NOx)?

A

Even at low concentrations, nitrogen oxide can irritate and cause severe respiratory problems by:

  1. Causing inflammation within the lining of the lungs
  2. Reduces immunity to lung infections
  3. Wheezing, coughing, colds, flu and bronchitis can result
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15
Q

What eventually happened to tetraethyllead?

A

Because of it, leaded gasoline were prohibited in most places which led to tetraethyllead to get replaced by other additives that improved octane rating

One of these additives were methy tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and ethanol

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16
Q

What happens if humans are exposed to carbon monoxide?

A

It is known to be a tasteless and odourless gas (Otherwise known as “The Silent Killer”)

The carbon monoxide enters the body through inhalation, and binds to the hemoglobin in blood (as it has 200-250x more affinity compared to oxygen) causing a decrease of oxygen delivery to all organs within the body, mainly targeting the brain and heart

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17
Q

What happens if humans are exposed to Hydrocarbon pollution?

A

Is a respiratory and eye irritant. Can cause lung disease in higher concentrations

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18
Q

What happens if humans are exposed to Particulate Matter Pollution?

A

Is a respiratory irritant

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19
Q

What happens if the Catalytic Converters don’t work properly

A

Chemical pollution called carbon monoxide will be emitted into the environment

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20
Q

What is a catalyst? (Used in Catalytic cracking)

A

Catalysts are substances (often specialized metals) that are used to speed up a chemical process without it being consumed

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21
Q

What is an organic compound and a hydrocarbon

A

Organic Compounds: A covalent compound that contains carbon
Hydrocarbon: A compound that only consists of hydrogen and carbon

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22
Q

What is biodiesel?

A

Biodiesel is a form of fuel that is similar to petroleum-derivative diesel fuel

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23
Q

What is Canada’s Petroleum refining capacity?

A

Canada’s total refining capacity is 295,000 cubic meters per day

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24
Q

What is Catalytic Cracking?

A

Catalytic cracking is a refining process that uses catalysts to break (cracks) longer hydrocarbon chains into smaller hydrocarbons

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25
Q

What is Catalytic Polymerization

A

This process involves sticking smaller hydrocarbon chains into larger hydrocarbon chains

This is the opposite of Catalytic cracking

Methane + Ethane = Propane

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26
Q

What is Catalytic Reforming

A

This is a petroleum process where catalysts convert’s straight-chain hydrocarbons into branched hydrocarbons

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27
Q

What is Diesel?

A

Diesel is made up of hydrocarbons (like gasoline) but is more closer to C12H24 than octane

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28
Q

What is Engine Knocking?

A

A metallic pinging sound that can be heard within automobile engines, when the air-fuel mixture combusts erratically in pockets (in other words not smoothly)

This results in a loss of power, and inefficient and uneconomical use of fuel

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29
Q

What is Nitrogen Oxide? (NOx)

A

NO2 is a highly toxic brown gas which is responsible for the brown colour in Toronto during smog days

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30
Q

What is Particulate Matter Pollution

A

This pollution are dust particles that appear as smoke during the process of burning gasoline and other fossil fuels

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31
Q

What is Petroleum? How did it get it’s name? What can it be refined into?

A

Petroleum is an oily, flammable liquid that has a mixture of hundreds of hydrocarbons and other minor components

The name itself is derived from two Latin words:
Petra: meaning rock
Oleum: meaning oil

Petroleum is also known as crude oil, which can be refined into either gasoline, kerosene, diesel, heating oil, and jet fuel

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32
Q

What is tetraethyllead

A

During the 1920s, an octane rating enhancer called tetraethyllead was added gasoline, which increased the octane rating by 10-15 points

Because of this, it sparked an era of leaded gasoline

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33
Q

What is the 4-Stroke Cycle in a Car Engine?

A

Intake: The air-fuel mixture enters the cylinder as the piston moves downwards

Compression: The air-fuel mixture becomes compressed as the piston moves upwards

Power: The spark plug fires, which causes an explosion that forces the piston downwards

Exhaust: As the piston moves up, it forces exhaust gasses out of the cylinder

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34
Q

What is the benefit of Diesel?

A

Diesel vehicles are more fuel efficient in comparison to gasoline vehicles because there is less fuel required per km of travel

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35
Q

What is the Greenhouse Effect?

A

The Greenhouse Effect is when all gasses within the Earth’s atmosphere traps the sun’s heat, which makes Earth warmer than it would be without the atmosphere

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36
Q

What is the problem of Diesel?

A

In comparison to gasoline, Diesel produces more CO2 as it produces 2.7 kg of CO2 whereas gasoline only produces 2.3 kg of CO2

In other words, Diesel produces more NOx and particulate matter

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37
Q

What is the problem with fractional distillation? How is this solved?

A

Distillation is not efficient enough to produce enough gasoline to power all vehicles in the world

And only 20% of any petroleum (crude oil) actually consist of the correct hydrocarbons for it to produce gasoline

This can be solved by using catalysts

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38
Q

What is the problem with Greenhouse gasses?

A

If more Greenhouse Gasses are released into the atmosphere, it can result in an unnatural increase of amount of energy being absorbed by the atmosphere

This results in a disruption of energy balance and in turn increases temperature

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39
Q

What is the process in a Diesel-powered engine?

A

A diesel powered engine is similarily designed to a gasoline-powered engine
The 4 steps are:

  1. Intake: air only
  2. Compression: air is compressed, causing it to heat up
  3. Power: Diesel fuel is injected exactly when the air heats up to ignite (No spark plugs used)
  4. Exhaust: (same as gasoline)
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40
Q

What is volatility?

A

Volatility is a measure of how well a substance evaporate (turn from liquid to gas)

In other words, substances with low boiling points have high volatility

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41
Q

What was the problem of tetraethyllead and what was the solution to this?

A

During the 1950s, it was observed that there was an increasing number of vehicles that were emitting noxious exhaust gasses which were unburned hydrocarbons (like carbon monoxide) and gasoline impurities (like suplur and nitrogen)

The solution for this problem was Catalytic Converters

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42
Q

What would happen if there are no Greenhouse gasses?

A

Because Greenhouse gasses are natural and vital for Earth, if there were no greenhouse gasses, the temperature on Earth would be -18 degrees

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43
Q

What’s the problem with Catalytic Cracking?

A

Even though we’re able to create more smaller hydrocarbon chains, we waste the larger hydrocarbon chains that could’ve been used for other applications like kerosene for heating

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44
Q

Why can’t unprocessed vegetable oils be used as fuel?

A

Because engines require significant modifications, which cannot be fulfilled from vegetable oils

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45
Q

Why is it better to have branched hydrocarbons compared to straight hydrocarbons?

A

Branched hydrocarbons were observed to have a better tendency to burning smoothly, and resisting engine knocking

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46
Q

How is biodiesel used?

A

Biodiesel can be used by blending it with petroleum diesel

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47
Q

What is B5? What is B100?

A

B5 stands for 5% biodiesel blend and B100 stands for 100% biodiesel blend

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48
Q

What are the 4 types of biomass energy?

A
  1. Wood
  2. Bioalcohols
  3. Biodiesel
  4. Municipal Waste
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49
Q

What is Bioalcohol: Ethanol?

A

Are light alcohols which are by-products of the distillation of petroleum, or by the fermentation of sugar containing biological materials

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50
Q

What can Bioalcohol: Ethanol be used for?

A

Can be used as a source of energy, and since they’re liquid, they can be a convenient replacement for petroleum-based transportation fuels like gasoline

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51
Q

How common is Bioethanol?

A

95% of all ethanol is Bioethanol, while the remaining 5% is produced from petroleum

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52
Q

What is Bioethanol mostly used for

A

Mostly used for the production of energy

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53
Q

Three step process of Bioethanol

A
  1. Sunlight first produces glucose by photosynthesis
    6CO + 6H2O + light -> C6H12O6 + 6O2
  2. Fermentation of glucose produces ethanol:
    C6H12O6 -> 2C2H5OH + 2CO2 + heat
  3. Combustion of ethanol produces heat
    C2H5OH + 3O2 -> 2CO2 +3H2O + heat
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54
Q

What’s the problem with using Bioethanol as power?

A

Because photosynthesis is inefficient, the electricity from burning ethanol in a heat engine has an overall efficiency that is considerably lower than what can be achieved using photovoltaics (EVs)

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55
Q

What is 2 ways Ethanol is used in fuel?

A

It’s pure form can either be in a combustion engine, or be blended with gasoline

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56
Q

How much Ethanol can you use in a gasoline mixture?

A

Only 10% before the engines begins to requiring modifications

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57
Q

What happens if the gasoline mixture is above 10% Ethanol?

A

The car will require minor modifications in the engine design

58
Q

What type of modifications are required for Ethanol?

A

Ethanol can react with polymers, which are in plastic car parts, these need to be replaced

59
Q

How much Ethanol fuel can the brand Flex Fuel use?

A

The Flex Fuel vehicles can use ethanol mixtures up to 85%

60
Q

Where is Ethanol produced?

A

70% of all ethanol are produced in either USA or Brazil

61
Q

How does USA use and make it’s ethanol?

A

Ethanol is made from corn, and are minor additions to gasoline

62
Q

How does Brazil use and make it’s ethanol?

A

Almost all ethanol are produced from sugarcane, and are used to fulfill the major portion of transportation fuel

63
Q

What are Galvanic Cells?

A

Are main components in batteries that are capable of converting energy released from a spontaneous chemical reaction into electricity

64
Q

What does spontaneous mean in a galvanic cell?

A

When the electron transfer occurs without any sort of external aid

65
Q

How are batteries formed?

A

Many galvanic cells wired together forms a battery

66
Q

How do galvanic cells work?

A

They can produce energy through the transfer of electrons

67
Q

What is another example of transfer of electrons?

A

Ionic bonding when metals lose electrons and non-metals gain electrons to form a stable octet

68
Q

What is Oxidation and Reduction?

A

Oxidation: Losing electrons
Reduction: Gaining electrons

Remember OIL RIG

Oxidation is loss
Reduction is gain

69
Q

What are Oxidizing and Reducing Agents?

A

Oxidizing Agents: Substances in which it causes another substance to lose electrons (to be oxidized)

Reducing Agents: Substances in which it causes another substance to gain electrons (to be reduced)

For example: LiCl
Lithium Cation is being oxidated, but is a reducing agent for Cl, whereas the Cl is being reduced, but is an oxidating agent to Li

70
Q

What is the general rule for Oxidizing and Reducing Agents?

A

Metals: Generally tend to lose electrons
(which are good reducing agents)

Nonmetals: Generally tend to gain electrons
(which are good oxidizing agents)

71
Q

What is Oxidation and Reduction within a galvanic cell?

A

One substance loses electrons and the other gains electrons

72
Q

What is the reaction called during oxidizing and reducing reactions?

A

These reactions are called half-reactions

73
Q

How important are half-reactions in the galvanic cell?

A

Take up half the overall process that occurs within the galvanic cell

74
Q

What are half-reactions?

A

Are equations to show whether the electron is lost or gained during these reactions

75
Q

How do half-reactions work?

A

They occur in pairs, both of which contain ions and electrons

76
Q

What is an example of an oxidation half reaction?

A

Zn0 -> Zn2+ + 2e-

You can see that the electrons are in the products side, thus are oxidizing reactions

77
Q

What is an example of a reduction half-reaction?

A

Cu2+ + 2e- -> Cu0

You can see that the electrons is in the reaction side, thus are reducing reactions

78
Q

What is the example of a redox reaction?

A

Oxidizing reaction: Zn0 -> Zn2+ + 2e-
Reduction reaction: Cu2+ + 2e- -> Cu0

Add both to cancel out electrons to get a final redox reaction of:
Zn0 + Cu2+ -> Zn2+ + Cu0

79
Q

What is it called when the metal has a charge in a redox reaction?:
Zn0 + Cu2+ -> Zn2+ + Cu0

A

This is called oxidation state

Zn increased its oxidation state from 0 -> 2
Cu decreased its oxidation state from 2 -> 0

Generally, oxidation increases oxidation state, and reduction decreases oxidation state

80
Q

What is the Flow of Electrons?

A

The movement of electrons from oxidized to reduced species produces electricity that can be used to charge devices

81
Q

What are components in a Galvanic cell?

A

Cathode: The battery’s positive terminal which receives electrons from the circuit (reduction)

Anode: The battery’s negative terminal which loses electrons to go to the circuit (oxidizing)

82
Q

What are in the beakers of a Galvanic Cell?

A

Two solutions:
Zinc Sulfate (ZnSO4)
Copper Sulfate (CuSO4)

Both solutions have electrolytes which produce ions

83
Q

What is the 3 step process in the Anode site In Galvanic Cells? Given (ZnSO4) and (CuSO4)

A
  1. The Zinc becomes oxidized as it loses electrons

Zn2 -> Zn2+ +2e-

  1. The two electrons now go into the connecting wire into the other beaker
  2. The Zn2+ enters the solution

The Zinc metal slowly erodes as more Zn0 loses to Zn2+

84
Q

What is the process of a Cathode site in Galvanic Cells? Given:
Given (ZnSO4) and (CuSO4)

A
  1. The Cu2+ ions will gain electrons (become reduced)
    Cu2+ + 2e- -> Cu0
  2. The newly formed Cu0 deposits on the copper strip
  3. The strip eventually becomes much darker and thicker as Cu2+ deposits to form the Cu0

As Cu2+ forms into Cu0, the blue colour of the original Cu2+ disappears

85
Q

Why is a Salt bridge needed in a Galvanic Cell?

A

When electrons move from anode beaker to cathode beaker, the anode beaker becomes positively charged, and the cathode beaker becomes full of the reduced material creating a charge imbalance

The salt flow (such as NaCl) is used to maintain the charge neutrality to allow electrons to flow

86
Q

What are the three results to Galvanic Cells overtime?

A
  1. The Zn metal erodes
  2. Cu metal thickens and darkens
  3. Cu2+ blue colour disappears
87
Q

How long will a battery operate for?

A

It’ll operate until all Zn0 have eroded away (preventing oxidation reaction) or there are no more Cu2+ ions left (stopping reduction reaction)

88
Q

How efficient are Galvanic Cells?

A

Most galvanic cells are able to convert chemical energy into electric energy with a net efficiency of 90%

89
Q

Why can’t Cu become oxidized and Zn be reduced?
(Opposite from Zn = Oxidized and Cu = Reduced)

A

Because Copper cations (Cu2+) has a higher reduction potential compared to Zinc cations which have higher oxidation potential

90
Q

How to find if a reaction is Spontaneous?

A

In order to find a spontaneous reaction, add voltages of two half-cells

If redox sum is positive, the reaction is spontaneous
If redox sum is negative, the reaction is non-spontaneous

91
Q

What happens if the Redox Potential is high?

A

The greater the redox potential, the higher the voltage and the greater the energy that is associated with the electron transfer

92
Q

How are higher voltage batteries achieved?

A

Higher voltage batteries can be achieved if many galvanic cells are connected

93
Q

What is the uses of Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) and Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH)?`

A

Both batteries are able to output a max voltage of 1.25 and are rechargeable. However, Ni-Cd is mainly used within toys and portable electronic devices, and NiMH are replacing Ni-Cd, and used in hybrid devices

94
Q

How much power does Alkaline batteries provide?

A

From tiny AAA to large D cells, they all produce the same voltage of 1.5V,

95
Q

Can Alkaline batteries have higher capacities?

A

Larger alkaline cells have a greater capacity, and are able to sustain the flow of electrons for a longer time because they contain more material

96
Q

What is the downside to alkaline batteries?

A

The problem with alkaline batteries is that once all the metal is used up, thus not being able to produce electrons to drive the current, the battery is considered dead and must be discarded

97
Q

What are Lithium-Ion batteries?

A

Are the least dense metal and has the highest oxidation potential of +3.6 V

98
Q

What is the benefit to Lithium-Ion’s least dense property?

A

They weigh less and are able to store more energy compared to other batteries of equivalent size

99
Q

What is the benefit of Lithium-Ion batteries

A

Are highly valued for portable applications and are rechargeable

100
Q

What are the two modes in Lithium-Ion batteries?

A

Discharge mode: When the battery is connected to a circuit, lithium ions will spontaneously migrate from the anode through the electrolyte, towards the cathode as the internal flow of ions are assisted by the external flow of neutrons through the circuit

Recharge mode: When the battery is being recharged, the electrical current flows in the opposite direction, which causes lithium ions to migrate back to the graphite electrode, resulting in the electrical potential or voltage of the battery to store lithium ions in the graphite electrode

101
Q

Why can’t lithium-ion batteries last forever?

A

When we repeat the recharge cycle and build up the metal, the metal can grow imperfections on the surface which prevents electrons from being able to be transferred properly

102
Q

What are and Where can Lead-Acid batteries be found?

A

Are inexpensive batteries which are commonly found in cars and similar vehicles

103
Q

Benefits with Lead-Acid Batteries

A

Are inexpensive

104
Q

What are the 3 Problems with Lead-Acid Batteries?

A

Because they’re discharged and recharged repeatedly:
1: They only last for 3-5 years
2: Heavy for their size
3: Contains lead which are toxic for the environment

105
Q

What are the Environmental Impacts of Batteries?

A

Batteries can contain a variety of heavy metals, like cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, and lithium

When they’re discarded in a garbage can, the battery case erodes which allows the inside metals and electrolytes to enter the environment

106
Q

How common is nuclear energy in Ontario?

A

Ontario is comprised of 60% nuclear energy

107
Q

What were the three experiments that discovered Radioactivity?

A

A scientist (Henri Becquerel) did three experiments

1: In sunny weather, he wrapped a photographic plate with black paper and exposed it to the sun, which resulted in no mark on the plate.

Led Becquerel to think that light and sunshine can’t penetrate the black wrapping

2: In sunny weather, Becquerel wrapped another photographic plate in black paper, but placed a Uranium compound on top of the plate and exposed both to sunlight to cause phosphorescence, which resulted in a mark being shown on the photographic plate

Led Becquerel to think that the X-rays assisted in phosphorescence, which penetrate the black paper

3: In cloudy weather, Becquerel then did the same, placing a Uranium compound on the plate, but didn’t expose it to the sun thinking it wasn’t going to make a mark, but the plate resulted in show a mark anyways

Becquerel then concluded that phosphorescence and sunlight has nothing to do with the mark

108
Q

How is Radioactivity caused?

A

Radiation is emitted by the spontaneous decay of an unstable atomic nucleus

109
Q

Which two radioactive elements did Marie Curie and Pierre Curie discover?

A

Radium and Polonium

110
Q

What makes an Element Radioactive?

A

Radioactive nuclei have high atomic numbers, those with 84 protons and above are radioactive

111
Q

What makes a Radioactive element stable?

A

Neutrons are either one above or one below the amount of protons, if there’s two and more, the element is deemed unstable which is radioactive

112
Q

What are the three types of Radioactive Decay?

A

1: ⍺ (alpha) radiation
2: β (beta) radiation
3: γ (gamma) radiation

113
Q

What is alpha radiation

A

Is a discharge of ⍺-particles from the nucleus of an atom

114
Q

What are ⍺-particles?

A

Are clusters of 2 protons and 2 neutrons which are the equivalent to the nuclei of a helium atom

115
Q

What happens to the original element after ⍺-radiation?

A

The atomic numbers will be two less, and the mass number will be four less

For example 241-Am (Atomic number = 95) turns into 237-Np (Atomic number = 93)

116
Q

What causes Beta radiation?

A

Results from a spontaneous discharge of β-particles from the nucleus of an atom

117
Q

What are β-particles

A

Fast moving electrons that travel at 90% the speed of light

118
Q

What happens to the original element from β-radiation?

A

When an element loses a β-particle, the element goes up one atomic number

For example Cs-137 (Atomic number = 55) turns into Ba-137 (Atomic number = 56)

119
Q

What is Gamma Radiation?

A

γ-rays is a type of electromagnetic radiation (like visible light, X-rays, microwaves, etc)

120
Q

What is the problem of Gamma radiation?

A

Due to it’s high energy, it can penetrate deeply into matter which can cause significant biological harm

121
Q

What is the significance of γ-rays?

A

They accompany both ⍺ and β decay

122
Q

What is the mass and charge of γ-rays

A

They have no mass or charge, therefore they don’t change an elements atomic and mass number

123
Q

What is the penetrating power of all three types of radiation?

A

Alpha = Weak (can be stopped by paper)

Beta = Intermediate (can be stopped with foil)

Gamma = Strong (Needs lead block to stop it)

124
Q

What is the ionizing power of all three types of radiation?

A

Alpha = Strong (Has a large mass and 2+ charge)

Beta = Weak (no mass only a 1- charge)

Gamma = Weak (no mass and no charge)

125
Q

What are the 2 Fundamental Laws?

A

1: Conservation of mass: Mass can be neither created or destroyed as a result of a chemical reaction, as there must be the same amount of matter among the combined products, as there is in the reactants

2: Conservation of Energy: Energy can neither be created or destroyed as a result of a chemical reaction as the sum of energy present in the products must be the same as the reactants, and that all mass can be converted into energy

126
Q

what is Nuclear Fission

A

A reaction in which splits a massive nucleus into two or more smaller fragments, which releases energy in the process

127
Q

What is the start, and the 3 steps of Nuclear Fission

A

First, a U-235 nucleus absorbs a neutron, which splits into two fragments (Kr-92 and Ba-141) and also 3 neutrons which begins a chain reaction

1: A single absorbed neutron will initiate the first fission
2: The neutrons produced by the first fission are absorbed by other U-235 nuclei, which causes a second round of fission events
3: Neutrons produced in the second round are absorbed by other U-235 nuclei, resulting in a third round of fission events

Each successive round results in an exponential increase in fission events thus energy release

128
Q

How fast can fission events be

A

They can happen within reactions of a second, which results in an explosive release of energy

129
Q

How much power can Uranium Fission produce

A

If a single gram of U-235 (size of a paperclip) undergoes fission, it can generate enough energy to power a 100-Watt light bulb for 23 years

130
Q

What is the problem of using Uranium?

A

U-235 itself is an abundant isotope of Uranium as only less than 1% of naturally occurring uranium is fissionable U-235 as 99% of naturally occurring uranium is U-238

131
Q

What is the solution to problems presented by Uranium?

A

We use Isotopic enrichment which is essentially centrifugation

132
Q

What is the 3 step process to Isotopic enrichment?

A

Since U-238 is slightly heavier than U-235, we use a gas centrifugation to separate the two isotopes

1: the mixture that has both U-238 and U-235 are put ina rapidly spinning chamber
2: The slightly heavier U-238 molecules will gravitate to the walls since they experience a stronger centrifugation force
3: The center of the chamber then becomes enriched in U-235 which can be used

133
Q

What is the 4-step process to Nuclear power?

A

1: Fission of U-235 within the reactor vessel produces heat, because the movable control rods made of boron and cadmium will slide in and out, thus controlling the rate of energy production. Resulting in pressurized water circulating in a loop which carries the generated heat into the next stage

2: The nonradioactive water in the second loop is now boiled into steam, which is used to drive an electric turbine to create electricity

3: The circulating water in the third loop cools the steam from the second loop, which results the condensation of steam to go back to water. Thus all excess heat is then transferred into a cooling tower where it dissipates through the process of evaporation

4: Nuclear power plants then generate excess heat so large which requires large volumes of water for cooling purposes, as the steam we see come from the nuclear plant towers are nothing else than water vapor condensing into droplets

134
Q

What are the 3 Problems of using Nuclear Power to generate Electricity

A

1: People fear of accidents

2: Nuclear waste as it is buried underground and takes thousands of years to decompose

3: The cost is high

135
Q

Is Nuclear Energy Renewable?

A

Uranium is considered a finite resource, however because nuclear energy is very efficient it usually generates more material than it consumes, thus arguing that Uranium can last for another 5 billion years thus being renewable

136
Q

What is the 3 advantages of Nuclear fusion over Nuclear fission

A
  • Is inexpensive and there is plentiful supply of fuel
  • The reactions are also easier to control, meaning safer
  • Environmental hazards from reactor byproducts are less hazardous
137
Q

What is the main problem with Nuclear Fusion?

A

It’s not technologically feasible to be mass produced (meaning it can’t be made with modern technology on a worldwide scale)

138
Q

What is Chernobyl accident?

A

Chernobyl is one of the largest uncontrolled release of radiation in the environment ever

139
Q

How long did Chernobyl emit radiation?

A

It emitted large quantities of radioactive substances in the air for about 10 days

140
Q

What are the 4 impacts of Chernobyl?

A
  1. Released radiation on the first day which reached up to 20,000 millisieverts (mSv) resulting in acute radiation poisoning
  2. A large increase of thyroid cancer amongst children and adolescents increased
  3. There was an increase in leukemia incidences in clean-up workers
  4. 116,000 people evacuated from the contaminated area surrounding Chernobyl

Mysteries of Everyday Materials (7 decks)

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