Question

Even though we have known of many nuclear energy technologies for about one century some of these technologies have not yet been fully developed. Obtaining energy from thorium remains a challenge for many reasons. In a reactor, thorium is bombarded with neutrons and becomes U-233 and then U-234, which can undergo fission and produce energy. Complete the following U-234 fission reaction. Hint: Do not ignore the amount of energy given off by the reaction! 234.0 tlu . i37 154Xe + 3?Sr + 3 1.0087n + 180 MeV

Answer 1

Answer: The nuclear fission reaction of U-234.043 is written below.

Explanation:

In a nuclear reaction, the total mass and total atomic number remains the same.

For the given fission reaction:

$^{234.043}_{92}\textrm{U}\rightarrow ^{137.159}_{54}\textrm{Xe}+^{A}_{38}\textrm{Sr}+3^{1.0087}_0\textrm{n}+180MeV$

To calculate A:

Total mass on reactant side = total mass on product side

234.043 = 137.159 + A + 3(1.0087)

A = 93.858

Now, the chemical equation becomes:

$^{234.043}_{92}\textrm{U}\rightarrow ^{137.159}_{54}\textrm{Xe}+^{93.858}_{38}\textrm{Sr}+3^{1.0087}_0\textrm{n}+180MeV$

Hence, the nuclear fission reaction of U-234.043 is written above.