Nuclear Chemistry Problem Set

This problem set was developed by S.E. Van Bramer for Chemistry 146 at Widener University.

  1. Calculate the Energy produced by the following fusion reaction:
    2H + 3H --> 4He + 1n
    Given the following exact mass measurements:
    1. 2H = 2.0140
    2. 3H = 3.01605
    3. 4He = 4.0026031
    4. 1n = 1.008665012

  2. Based upon the results above, calcuate how much deuterium and tritium would be required to run a 100 MW power plant for 1 year.

  3. Calculate the binding energy for an alpha particle given the following information:
    1. proton = 1.007276470
    2. neutron = 1.008665012
    3. [alpha] = 4.0015061

  4. Based upon C-14 dating, with a current count of 7 min-1, a half life of 5730 years, and an initial count of 13.6 min-1, what is the age of the sample? What would be the counts after 10,000 years?

  5. Based upon U-238 dating, with a half life of 4.5*109 years, a sample of rock contains 1.502 grams of U-238 and 0.312 grams of Pb, what is the age of the rock. What assumptions are made?

  6. Based upon K-40 dating, with a half life of 1.3*109 years and a current analysis of potassium (1.502 grams) and argon (0.312 grams), what is the age of this rock?

  7. Radioactive 123I was produced in a nuclear reactor. The a series of experiments was preformed to determine the concentration of 123I at different times. The results are given in the table below.
    1. Graph this data
    2. Graph this data for a first order kinetics plot
    3. What is the rate constant for the radioactive decay of 123I?
    4. Based upon this data what is the half life for 123I?
    5. How much 123I will remain after 3 days?

      Time (hr) Activity
      0 0.00256
      3 0.002189
      6 0.001873
      9 0.001602
      12 0.00137
      15 0.001171
      18 0.001002
      21 0.000857
      24 0.000733
      27 0.000627
      30 0.000536
      33 0.000458
      36 0.000392
      39 0.000335
      42 0.000287
      45 0.000245
      48 0.00021

Please send comments or suggestions to svanbram@science.widener.edu

Scott Van Bramer
Department of Chemistry
Widener University
Chester, PA 19013

© copyright 1996, S.E. Van Bramer
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Last Updated: Tuesday, May 04, 1999 9:01:49 AM