If a shortage in worldwide supplies of fissionable uranium arose, it would be possible to use other fissionable nuclei. Plutonium, one such fuel, can be made in “breeder” reactors that manufacture more fuel than they consume. The sequence of reactions by which plutonium is made is as follows:

(a) A ²³⁸U nucleus undergoes an (n, γ) reaction to produce ²³⁹U.

(b) ²³⁹U decays by β emission (t_½ = 23.5 min) to give an isotope of neptunium.

(c) This neptunium isotope decays by β emission to give a plutonium isotope.

(d) The plutonium isotope is fissionable. On collision of one of these plutonium isotopes with a neutron, fission occurs, with at least two neutrons and two other nuclei as products.

Write an equation for each of the nuclear reactions.

Interpretation:

Equation for the given nuclear reaction has to be written.

Concept Introduction:

Balancing nuclear reaction equation: The balanced nuclear reaction should conserve both mass number and atomic number.

• The sum of the mass numbers of the reactants should be equal to the sum of mass numbers of the products in the reaction.
• The sum of atomic numbers (or the atomic charge) of the reactants should be equal to the sum of atomic numbers (or the atomic charge) of the products in the reaction.

Uranium-238 undergoes neutron bombardment with an emission of gamma radiation to produce Uranium-239. On balancing equation, the atomic and mass number must be equal.

U92238+n01→U92239

Interpretation:

Equation for the given nuclear reaction has to be written.

Concept Introduction:

Balancing nuclear reaction equation: The balanced nuclear reaction should conserve both mass number and atomic number.

• The sum of the mass numbers of the reactants should be equal to the sum of mass numbers of the products in the reaction.
• The sum of atomic numbers (or the atomic charge) of the reactants should be equal to the sum of atomic numbers (or the atomic charge) of the products in the reaction.

Interpretation:

Equation for the given nuclear reaction has to be written.

Concept Introduction:

Balancing nuclear reaction equation: The balanced nuclear reaction should conserve both mass number and atomic number.

• The sum of the mass numbers of the reactants should be equal to the sum of mass numbers of the products in the reaction.
• The sum of atomic numbers (or the atomic charge) of the reactants should be equal to the sum of atomic numbers (or the atomic charge) of the products in the reaction.

Interpretation:

Equation for the given nuclear reaction has to be written.

Concept Introduction:

Balancing nuclear reaction equation: The balanced nuclear reaction should conserve both mass number and atomic number.

• The sum of the mass numbers of the reactants should be equal to the sum of mass numbers of the products in the reaction.
• The sum of atomic numbers (or the atomic charge) of the reactants should be equal to the sum of atomic numbers (or the atomic charge) of the products in the reaction.