Questions tagged [nuclear]
For questions relating to the dynamics and processes that occur within and interactions between the nuclei of atoms.
2
votes
0answers
27 views
What is the most stable pear-shaped nucleus?
I have heard on the Internet that there are at least three pear-shaped nuclei: radium-224, radon-220 (a direct product of the previous isotope), and barium-144. CERN has a webpage about this discovery ...
10
votes
0answers
116 views
What happens when para-water ice is suddenly melted?
Background (hydrogen)
In the case of recently liquified hydrogen (which is quite cold of course) it must be re-equilibrated before loading on to a rocket as fuel to avoid a sudden exothermic ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
If a sample to be carbon-dated is wrapped in a piece of paper, will you still be able to effectively measure the radioactivity of the sample? [closed]
If a sample to be carbon-dated is wrapped in a piece of paper, will you still be able to effectively measure the radioactivity of the sample?
3
votes
1answer
49 views
Instability due to neutrons
Why does an excess of neutrons leads to instability?
For example, both $\ce{^{3}H}$ and $\ce{^{4}H}$ are unstable, with respective half-lives of $3.89\cdot 10^8$ and $1.39\cdot 10^{-22}$ seconds.
...
0
votes
2answers
80 views
How much ionising radiation is released during an atomic blast?
I've been looking for how much ionising radiation is produced during an atomic blast (as a percentage).
I have seen a claim of 5% of the energy in an atomic blast is ionising energy (Wikipedia), but ...
1
vote
2answers
68 views
Anti matter elements? [closed]
Quite a self-explanatory question I guess. I wonder whether there is any information or theory on this. I seem to like remember there is such an element with positron in center and electron rotating ...
-1
votes
1answer
23 views
Unstable or radioactive as a property?
What is better term for describing a chemical element; "radioactive" or "unstable"?
I am leaning towards the "unstable", because it seems to me that it better describes nature of the element, as ...
3
votes
1answer
324 views
Uses of ruthenium-106?
I read a news article recently about a cloud of ruthenium-106 being released over Europe. The article mentioned one of the uses for this specific isotope is in fuel cells for satellites. I tried to do ...
5
votes
1answer
252 views
Why do Alpha particles not collide with electrons during alpha decay? [duplicate]
Alpha particles are positively charged, so my question is that during alpha decay, when these are released from the nucleus, why doesn't it ever occur that they collide and grab an electron or two ...
0
votes
3answers
795 views
Can you decay to half an atom?
In school we are learning about half-life, and I was wondering if it is possible to decay to half an atom?
-2
votes
2answers
477 views
Why atomic number decreases in alpha emission
My teachers taugh me that alpha particle is a helium nucleus carrying net +2 charge, hence if an radioactive subastance emits alpha particle it looses two of its protons and two neutrons but no ...
7
votes
1answer
215 views
Molecular Hamiltonian of Helium hydride ion
Currently, I am going through Quantum Simulation of Helium Hydride Cation in a Solid-State Spin Register. I am not a chemist but rather a computer scientist hence having trouble following the paper.
...
4
votes
0answers
475 views
Is order of reaction defined for nuclear reactions?
I am asking this question after asking a similar one for spontaneous nuclear decay phy.stack. Link
Order of reaction is defined for chemical reaction. But wikipedia says about spontaneous nuclear ...
4
votes
1answer
150 views
Rutherford's gold foil experiment [duplicate]
Rutherford projected $\alpha$-rays onto the gold foil. $\alpha$-rays are the same as a $\ce{He^2+}$ nucleus and they can ionize atoms. Therefore, why are gold atoms not ionized when the $\alpha$-rays ...
4
votes
1answer
282 views
When do reactions reach steady state?
I was doing a multiple choice problem that asked about when the following nuclear decay sequence reaches steady state (When does the activity of $\ce{^99Mo}$ roughly equal the activity of $\ce{^{99m}...
3
votes
1answer
172 views
How does radiocarbon dating work?
I'd like to better understand radiocarbon dating, however, I do not know what resources I must use in this regard. Could someone walk me through the process of radiocarbon dating with a few examples? (...
6
votes
0answers
226 views
How to estimate the enrichment of U-234 from the enrichment of U-235?
Fresh nuclear fuel made from naturally occurring uranium (i.e. neither MOX nor ERU fuel) is mainly characterised by the enrichment of $\ce{^235U}$. The mass and activity concentrations of $\ce{^235U}$ ...
0
votes
1answer
58 views
On what basis can we say that one nuclide is more stable than another one? [closed]
I read in a textbook that the nuclide $^{40}_{20}\ce{Ca}$ is more stable as compared to $^{30}_{13}\ce{Al}$. I checked it online and saw that most sources describe the observation with respect to odd ...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
Low Energy Nuclear Reactions [closed]
I was interested in knowing if Low Energy Nuclear Reactions are practical or just mythical. What is the current stance of the scientific society about their feasibility?
0
votes
1answer
73 views
C14 Nuclear Diamond to AA Battery Apples-to-Apples Engery output
I was reading an article about nuclear diamonds and they made an apples-to-oranges comparison of a 1 gram C14 nuclear diamond to a single AA battery. Here is the part I'm referencing:
"An alkaline ...
-2
votes
1answer
816 views
Why are neutrino/anti-neutrino released in Beta decay? [closed]
In positive beta decay neutrino are released whereas in negative beta decay anti neutrino are released. From where did they came? Are they produced during the collision? What s it's purpose? Is it to ...
-3
votes
1answer
337 views
Why during nuclear fusion does the process only release neutrons? [closed]
Say we envision subatomic particles like balloons held together by static electricity (analogous to nuclear force).
Now we smash em' together. They make a new element. My chemistry test answer key ...
-2
votes
1answer
106 views
Cold fusion via chemical reactions?
How could a nuclear reaction possibly happen at room temperature? We know how other blasts work and what chemicals are used to cause their effect, but what chemicals could cause a nuclear reaction at ...
0
votes
2answers
579 views
Rutherford gold foil experiment
This question may sound silly.
What actually I understood from this experiment is that the positively charged nucleus which is in the center is responsible for the bending and reflection of the alpha ...
3
votes
1answer
174 views
Nuclear Fallout [closed]
If there was a nuclear explosion and years later I come out of a fallout shelter like in the popular game series Fallout, what elements would react to the radiation in a way that could harm humans and ...
5
votes
1answer
598 views
Are photons ejected from atomic nuclei?
I have heard that electrons absorb or eject photons when transitioning from one orbital to another. Is this correct? Can atomic nuclei eject photons?
6
votes
2answers
2k views
What chemical elements does a nuclear explosion release into its mushroom cloud?
I'm interested in the mushroom cloud produced by a nuclear explosion: What is it made of?
I know that the uranium fission reaction is the following (from this web page)
$$\ce{{}^{235}U + {}^1_0n -&...
0
votes
1answer
2k views
Can we make Gold in a Lab? [duplicate]
Can we make Gold in a Lab? Is it possible to make changes in metals that will create Gold? and How?
I have tried to search something related to this but didn't get any good results.
Thanks in Advance
2
votes
1answer
428 views
Why doesn't the atomic number change by two in the process of production of Americium?
Looking at the bomardment of uranium-238 this is what I see.
First, I see a uranium-238 atom with 92 protons bombarded with a neutron. The neutron then undergoes beta decay into a proton. So we then ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
How are nuclei stable?
We all know that the density of the nucleus is very high.
Nuclei are made up of protons and neutrons, and while protons have the same charge, they are closely packed in a nucleus. How does the ...
0
votes
3answers
218 views
Beta Decay - Doesn't Add Up [duplicate]
The definition of beta $(\beta^-)$ decay is that an electron is produced.
For example,
$$\ce{^131_53I -> ^131_54Xe + e^-}$$
So iodine forms Xe and releases one electron with a -1 charge only and ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
Nuclear power: what material is the control rod made from?
My question:
What type of material is used in the control rod of a nuclear reactor? (Nuclear power plant)
2
votes
3answers
4k views
What is the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?
I always mix up the definition of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. So, what is nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, and an example for each?
-1
votes
1answer
381 views
Do elements actually transmute in nuclear reactions?
Whenever a nuclear transmutation happens, do we get a new element or do we have the same element with chemical properties of a different element?
Isn't it very much against the intuition?
1
vote
1answer
77 views
“Orthogonality” of chemical elements
Chemical elements are said to be immutable at normal energies, but not at the energies that are orders of magnitude higher.
Given that nucleus at normal energies gives us the Periodic Table and at ...
5
votes
1answer
467 views
How to derive the nuclear spin of 23Na?
Is it possible to derive the nuclear spin I=3/2 for $\ce{^23Na}$ from a term scheme or from something else from spectroscopy?
I thought the nucleus spin is empirical (and cannot be calculated from J ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Conversion of one atom to another to get the element of the latter atom in abundance
One child who is in 9th standard has claimed to have find a solution to all practical physical problems. On asking for details, he said that all periodic elements has common components, i.e. electrons,...
1
vote
3answers
127 views
Radioactivity and Kinetics of disintegration
Well I've just started on kinetics and there are a few things I am absolutely confused about!
First of all, is a neutron actually made up of a proton and electron? If yes, then how is this possible?
...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
How long must a sample be irradiated before all 59-Co atoms are converted to 60-Co? [closed]
For the interaction, n$^0$ + $^{59}$Co $\to$ $^{60}$Co
6
votes
1answer
87 views
Interpret Radiodecay Symbolism
$\binom{16}{8}$O (n,$\alpha$)$\binom{13}{6}$C and $\binom{9}{4}$Be ($\alpha$,n)$\binom{12}{6}$C
I had initially thought the products & reactants may be O-16 $\to$ C-13 + He-2 + p$^+$ from alpha ...
10
votes
1answer
6k views
Why can't light pass through a gold foil, but alpha particles can?
Rutherfords experiment showed that most of the alpha particles passed through a thin gold foil undeflected. So why can't light pass through the foil, which is supposedly thinner than the heavy alpha ...
1
vote
1answer
75 views
Find ratio of number of atoms of $A$ and $B$
However I am thinking of this question to be damn easy but still I'll not say as I am not getting it,
There are two radio nuclei $A$ and $B$. $A$ is $\alpha$ emitter and
$B$ is $\beta$ emitter ...
1
vote
1answer
560 views
Final amount of Hg present after $\beta$ decay
I have been trying to solve an exercise on nuclear chemistry, but I was not sure whether I should ask this on physics or chemistry but I think that if chemistry had an exercise based on this then ...
6
votes
3answers
811 views
Understanding Beta Decay
Reading Wikipedia on "Beta Decay" they list the equation of Carbon-14 decaying into N-14.
see equation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_decay
I presume the 14 refers to total protons and neutrons. ...
0
votes
3answers
3k views
Is it possible to compress an atom to infinite density? [closed]
I know, by nature, normally atoms are stable. But I wonder, if it is possible to compress an atom, say the Hydrogen atom, to infinite density by applying external force? After all, electrons and ...
2
votes
1answer
39 views
Are the electrons also distributed for the alpha decay?
Consider this reaction of alpha decay:
$$ \ce{^{222}_{88}Ra -> ^{218}_{86}Rn + ^4_2 He} $$
My question is, whether or not the electrons also get distributed in the reaction like the nucleons?
50
votes
5answers
8k views
The last element's atomic number
I was just thinking what can be the last atomic number that can exist within the range of permissible radioactivity limit and considering all other factors in quantum physics and chemical factors.
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Where do the electrons that are released in the sun go?
I've heard that electrons are released from the clutches of nuclei in the plasma state that is present in the sun. My question is: Where do these electrons go? Do they go to the product nuclei of the ...
2
votes
1answer
695 views
Types of radioactive decay
Besides alpha, beta, and gamma, are there any other types of radioactive decay? If so, what are they? Is there any type of radioactive decay that is more powerful than gamma?
3
votes
2answers
884 views
Notation of beta decay
Is it an ion or a neutral atom that is created through beta decay?
For example: $_6^{14}\mathrm C \to ~ _7^{14}\mathrm N + \mathrm e^- + \mathrm{v{_e}}^{-}$
Isn't $_7^{14}N$ an ion since neutron ...
