Spontaneous processes fission

Some isotopes of uranium (Z = 92) and elements of higher atomic number, the transuranium elements, also decay by spontaneous nuclear fission. In this process a heavy nuclide splits into nuclides of intermediate mass and neutrons. 

Slow-moving neutrons are required in fission because the process involves initial absorption of the neutron by the nucleus. The resulting more massive nucleus is often unstable and spontaneously undergoes fission. Fast neutrons tend to bounce off the nucleus, and little fission occurs. 

The search for technetium in molybdenum ores failed and scientists turned their attention to another possibility. If technetium isotopes are produced in fission reactors why cannot they be born in natural processes of spontaneous uranium fission ... 

Uranium fission caused by neutrons was forced or artificial. Not each uranium nucleus could be split and not each neutron could produce fission. When scientists had studied the fission mechanism in more detail they understood that the intensity of fission was higher under the effect of slow neutrons and if the uranium isotope with a mass number of 235 was used. The other uranium isotope, uranium-238, experienced fission only when bombarded by fast neutrons. Can there be a natural process similar to artificial uranium fission N. Bohr thought about that and put forward a hypothesis about possible spontaneous uranium fission (without external energy being transferred to the nuclei). 

During spontaneous nuclear fission reactions, heavy nuclei split when bombarded by neutrons, and release large amounts of energy. This process was used to produce two atomic bombs whose use ended World War II. A second energy-releasing nuclear process, fusion, is the basis for today s hydrogen bombs. Nuclear fission is in limited use as a source of electrical power however, this use is controversial. Nuclear fusion has not yet proved feasible as a controlled source of power, but research toward this end continues. 

Spontaneous fission the spontaneous decay of an unstable nucleus in which a heavy nucleus of mass number greater than 89 splits into lighter nuclei and energy is released. (21.1) Spontaneous process a physical or chemical change that occurs by itself, (p. 768)... 

There are four modes of radioactive decay that are common and that are exhibited by the decay of naturally occurring radionucHdes. These four are a-decay, j3 -decay, electron capture and j3 -decay, and isomeric or y-decay. In the first three of these, the atom is changed from one chemical element to another in the fourth, the atom is unchanged. In addition, there are three modes of decay that occur almost exclusively in synthetic radionucHdes. These are spontaneous fission, delayed-proton emission, and delayed-neutron emission. Lasdy, there are two exotic, and very long-Hved, decay modes. These are cluster emission and double P-decay. In all of these processes, the energy, spin and parity, nucleon number, and lepton number are conserved. Methods of measuring the associated radiations are discussed in Reference 2 specific methods for y-rays are discussed in Reference 1. 

Uranium-235 and U-238 behave differently in the presence of a controlled nuclear reaction. Uranium-235 is naturally fissile. A fissile element is one that splits when bombarded by a neutron during a controlled process of nuclear fission (like that which occurs in a nuclear reactor). Uranium-235 is the only naturally fissile isotope of uranium. Uranium-238 is fertile. A fertile element is one that is not itself fissile, but one that can produce a fissile element. When a U-238 atom is struck by a neutron, it likely will absorb the neutron to form U-239. Through spontaneous radioactive decay, the U-239 will turn into plutonium (Pu-239). This new isotope of plutonium is fissile, and if struck by a neutron, will likely split. 

Some materials have a spontaneous decay process that emits neutrons. Some shortlived fission products are in this class and are responsible for the delayed neutron emission from fission events. Another material in this class is Cf that has a spontaneous fission decay mode. Cf is probably the most useful material to use as a source of neutrons with a broad energy spectrum. 

Nuclear detection approaches that use radioactive isotojjic sources (e.g., Cf for spontaneous fission and asociated neutron emission or ° Co for gamma emission) will have to obtain state and federal hcenses to field the equipment and abide by apphcable health and safety regulations. The Hcensing process takes some time to put into place and may restrict the easy movement of the detection equipment to new locations. This impacts the abffity to rapidly re-locate equipment based up inteUigence estimates of the behavior of smugglers. The use of fixed pre-licensed sites can help to some extent. 

Californium is a synthetic radioactive transuranic element of the actinide series. The pure metal form is not found in nature and has not been artificially produced in particle accelerators. However, a few compounds consisting of cahfornium and nonmetals have been formed by nuclear reactions. The most important isotope of cahfornium is Cf-252, which fissions spontaneously while emitting free neutrons. This makes it of some use as a portable neutron source since there are few elements that produce neutrons all by themselves. Most transuranic elements must be placed in a nuclear reactor, must go through a series of decay processes, or must be mixed with other elements in order to give off neutrons. Cf-252 has a half-life of 2.65 years, and just one microgram (0.000001 grams) of the element produces over 170 mhhon neutrons per minute. 

Mendeleviums most stable isotope is Md-258, with a half-life of 51.5 days. It decays into einsteinium-254 through alpha (helium nuclei) decay, or it may decay through the process of spontaneous fission to form other isotopes. 

Similar to all artificially produced radioisotopes that go through natural decay process or spontaneous fission, mendelevium is an extreme radiation hazard. There is so little of it in existence and produced annually that there is no risk of individual or public radiation poisoning. 

Dubnium s (Unp) most stable isotope, Db-268, is unstable with a half-life of 16 houts. It can change into lawtencium-254 by alpha decay ot into tuthetfotdium-268 by electton cap-tute. Both of these teactions occut thtough a series of decay processes and spontaneous fission (SF). Since so few atoms of unnilpentium (dubnium) are produced, and they have such a short half-life, its melting point, boiling point, and density cannot be determined. In addition, its valence and oxidation state are also unknown. 

Most of the chemical and physical properties of imniloctium (hassium) are unknown. What is known is that its most stable isotope (hassium-108) has the atomic weight (mass) of about 277. Hs-277 has a half-life of about 12 minutes, after which it decays into the isotope seaborgium-273 through either alpha decay or spontaneous fission. Hassium is the last element located at the bottom of group 8, and like element 107, it is produced by a cold fusion process that in hassium s case is accomplished by slamming iron (Fe-58) into particles of the isotope of lead (Pb-209), along with several neutrons, as follows ... 

The half-life of 244Pu (8.2 X 107 years) is short compared with the age of the earth (4.5 X 109 years), and hence this nuclide is now extinct. However, the time interval (a) between the element synthesis in stars and formation of the solar system may have been comparable with the half-life of 244Pu. It has been found recently in this laboratory that various meteorites contain excess amounts of heavy xenon isotopes, which appear to be the spontaneous fission decay products of 244Pu. The value of H calculated from the experimental data range between 1 to 3 X 108 years. The process of formation of the solar system from the debris of supernova is somewhat analogous to the formation of fallout particles from a nuclear explosion. 

CHEMICAL ELEMENTS. A chemical element may be defined as a collection of atoms of otic type which cannot be decomposed into any simpler units by any chemical transformation, but which may spontaneously change into other units by radioactive processes A chemical element is a substance that is made up of but one kind of atom. Of the over 100 chemical elements known, only 90 tire found in nature. The remaining elements have been produced in nuclear reactors and particle accelerators. Theoretical physicists do not all agree, but some believe that fission-stable nuclei should exist at atomic numbers 109. 114. and 126. Claims thus lur have been made for the discovery, isolation, or creation of elements up to 110. The element with the highest atomic number officially named and entered into the formal table of atomic weight is darmstudlium (Dx) with an atomic number of 110. 

CAS 53850-36-5). Rulherfordium. Researchers ul Dubna (Russia), in 1964. bombarded plutonium with accelerated 113-115 MeV neon ions. During this process, an isotope that decayed by spontaneous fission was observed. It was reported that Ihe isotope had a half-title of 0.3 0.1 second and it was reasoned that the isotope was 104. resulting from... 

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