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A uranium nucleus can undergo nuclear fission when bombarded with a neutron - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 2 - 2006 - Paper 1

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A uranium nucleus can undergo nuclear fission when bombarded with a neutron. In one such fission reaction, two neutrons are released and two different new nuclei for... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:A uranium nucleus can undergo nuclear fission when bombarded with a neutron - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 2 - 2006 - Paper 1

Step 1

a. How many neutrons are present in a nucleus of \(^{235}_{92}U\)?

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Answer

The number of neutrons in a nucleus can be found using the formula:

[ \text{Number of Neutrons} = \text{Mass Number} - \text{Atomic Number} ]

For uranium ((^{235}_{92}U)), the mass number is 235 and the atomic number is 92. Therefore:

[ \text{Number of Neutrons} = 235 - 92 = 143 ]

Thus, there are 143 neutrons in a nucleus of (^{235}_{92}U).

Step 2

b. To which section of the periodic table does uranium belong?

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Answer

Uranium belongs to the actinides section of the periodic table, which is typically located in the f-block.

Step 3

c. What is the

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Answer

i. The chemical symbol for element X is (^{138}_{54}Xe).

ii. The mass number of the above isotope of element X is 138.

Step 4

d. Predict two properties of the element zirconium.

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Answer

  1. Zirconium is known for its high resistance to corrosion and is often used in chemical equipment and piping.
  2. Zirconium has a high melting point, making it suitable for applications in nuclear reactors.

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