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Advanced Chemistry > Unit 3 - Nuclear Chemistry - Nuclear Energy > Flashcards

Unit 3 - Nuclear Chemistry - Nuclear Energy Flashcards

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1
Q

Why are most fission power plants located on the East Coast? (3)

A
  1. Uses a lot of water for cooling
  2. Need to be located near freshwater sources
  3. Abundant on the East Coast
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2
Q

What is Strontium-90 and its significance? (3)

A
  1. Chemically similar to Ca
  2. Obtained from dairy and veg. products
  3. Accumulates in bone
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3
Q

What is Iodine-131 and its significance? (2)

A
  1. Concentrates in the thyroid glands
  2. Iodine tablets are taken to prevent the uptake of Iodine-131 (if there was unwanted radioation exposure)
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4
Q

What percentage of US energy comes from nuclear energy?

A

20%

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5
Q

What is the difference between civilian nuclear power plants and weapons-grade uranium?

A
  1. Civilian - Use less enriched uranium
    (2 - 3.5% of U - 235)
  2. Weapon Grade - Enriched to 90% U - 235
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6
Q

How is radiation therapy used? (3)

Process, Symptoms

A
  1. Radiation aimed (to kill) at the cancerous tissue
  2. Most lethal to fast-growing cells
  3. Nausea, vomiting, and hair loss (Early signs of radiation sickness)
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7
Q

What is Gamma Ray Imaging and its use? (2)

A
  1. Technetium-99m emits gamma radiation
  2. Can be used to image organs and tissue
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8
Q

What is food irradiation? (3)

A
  1. Radioisotopes
  2. Destroy microorganisms
  3. That cause food spoilage
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9
Q

Uranium 238 Dating?

A

Age of Rocks (4.5 Billion Yrs)

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10
Q

Carbon 14 Dating?

A

Age of Living Things (5715 Years)

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11
Q

What are the risks of radiation? (4)

A
  1. Ionizing of cells -
    Destroys molecules through the removal e -
  2. Affects fast-growing cells & tissues
    (White blood cells and Bone marrow)
  3. Disrupts DNA - Causes mutations
  4. Direct burns to plants and animals
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12
Q

What is background radiation and its primary source? (3)

A
  1. 75% of all exposure of Radiation
  2. Primarily from natural sources
  3. Largest component is Radon (55%)
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13
Q

What’s Radon? (3)

A
  1. 2nd leading cause of Lung Cancer
  2. Naturally occurring radioactive gas
  3. Produced by breakdown of uranium
    (In soil, rock, and water)
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14
Q

How can Radon enter homes?

A

Through foundation cracks and other openings due to pressure differences between the soil and the home.

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15
Q

What happens if there are not enough radioactive atoms in the path of the neutrons that are released in a fission reactor?

A

The chain reaction will cease

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16
Q

What must be present for a chain reaction to be sustained in a fission reactor?

A

Critical Mass - Minimum amount of fissionable material (Uranium 235)

17
Q

What is a Reactor Meltdown? (4)

A
  1. Uncontrolled nuclear reaction
  2. Reactor gets too hot and may melt
  3. Destroying containment of radiation
  4. Contaminating the environment
18
Q

What is the core of the nuclear reactor? (2)

A
  1. Fuel Rods filled with U - 235
  2. Maintains nuclear fission chain reaction
19
Q

What stimulates the nuclear fission reaction within the fission reactor? (4)

A
  1. Neutrons collide with U - 235 in fuel rods
  2. Now U - 236, splitting into smaller nuclei
  3. Nuclei releases lots of E in form of heat
  4. Neutrons are released & start chain rxn
20
Q

How is the nuclear reaction in the nuclear reactor controlled? (3)

A
  1. Control rods made of boron & cadmium
  2. Is lowered in the reactor
  3. Slow rxn by ABSORBING excess neutrons
21
Q

How is the thermal energy converted to electricity? (4)

A
  1. Energy heats the coolant (water)
  2. Turned into steam (Steam generator
  3. Turns a turbine, spinning the generator
  4. Produces electricity
22
Q

How is steam recycled? (3)

A
  1. Condensed into water
  2. By a condenser
  3. To turn to steam by heat from rxn
23
Q

What is also produced from the neutron collision of U - 238 other than neutrons and energy? (2)

A
  1. Plutonium 239
  2. Also fissionable, creates 1/3 of reactor’s E
24
Q

Definition of Moderator (3)

A
  1. SLOWS neutrons down
  2. So they can get absorbed by U - 235
  3. Heavy water is commonly used, graphite sometimes
25
Q

Where does the remaining 25% of exposure of radiation come from?

A

Medical radiation (X - Rays)

26
Q

What are two ways to protect yourself from exposure radiation?

A

Distance - Lower intensity of radiation with increasing distance from radioactive source

Shielding - Lead is commonly used, for it absorb gamma rays’ high penetrating power

Advanced Chemistry (15 decks)

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