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A spark or other heat source causes the accumulated hydrogen to react with oxygen in the air, making very hot steam. If there is enough hydrogen an explosion results.

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What can a hydrogen bomb do?

A Hydrogen bomb is nearly 1000 times stronger than an atom bomb, the reason for this is the methods in which they are made. Atomic bombs are made from the process of nuclear fission, in which two atoms crash into each other releasing a chain reaction of exploding atoms, hence the supernova, and shockwave. For a hydrogen bomb the process used is nuclear fusion, in which two atoms are fused. In this case, two hydrogen atoms are used. These two hydrogen atoms form a helium atom while releasing an enormous amount of energy. Leading to my point that a hydrogen bomb can destroy everything in a radius of about 40 miles.


That using electricity to combine oxygen and hydrogen in your home could cause a problem?

Using flammable gases in your home could cause an explosion! That is why there is a large warning on Oxygen concentrators regarding the use of flames. You will be much safer if you stick with bottled or tap water!


What is used as an efficient moderator in a majority of reactors?

In a majority of reactors, water is used as an efficient moderator. It helps slow down the fast neutrons produced during nuclear reactions, making them more likely to cause further fission reactions in the reactor core.


What happens when fire mixes with hydrogen?

When fire mixes with hydrogen, it can result in combustion. Hydrogen is highly flammable and when it comes into contact with fire, it can ignite and cause a rapid release of energy in the form of heat and light. This reaction can be explosive in certain conditions.


What substances are used as moderators in a nuclear reactor?

Substances commonly used as moderators in nuclear reactors include light water (H2O), heavy water (D2O), and graphite. These materials help slow down fast-moving neutrons to speeds at which they are more likely to cause fission in uranium fuel.

Related Questions

What caused the nuclear reactors to explode?

The nuclear reactors did not explode. The problem was that the cooling system failed, and they overheated. Some water got so hot that it split into hydrogen and oxygen, and the hydrogen burned in the oxygen, which cause it to "pop"


Could Japan's reactors produce a nuclear explosion?

No, the fuel used won't be weapons grade, just industrial grade. The fuel will get very hot though and could cause non nuclear explosions, which will cause radioactive dust to be released into the surroundings.


Do nuclear fission reactors cause air polution?

yes


What can cause changes in an ecosystem?

The explosion of a hydrogen bomb.


Can an explosion at a nuclear plant such as the Fukushima one in Japan cause an EMP?

The Fukushima plant explosions occurred at the nuclear facility, but they were hydrogen explosions (hydrogen exploding, not a hydrogen-bomb explosion), so no. It would take a much higher release of energy than a hydrogen explosion to generate a significant electro-magnetic pulse or EMP. Nuclear plants can cause significant and very long-term damage when they melt down and impact a lot of people with the release of radioactive material, but are not capable of exploding like an "atomic bomb." Fission and fusion bombs have to be specially designed and engineered to create those EMP-inducing mega-explosions.


What are the destructive uses of nuclear fission?

Nuclear fission can be used in destructive ways, such as in atomic bombs where a chain reaction is initiated to cause a powerful explosion. Additionally, nuclear fission can be used in nuclear reactors to produce energy for electricity, but if not controlled properly, accidents like meltdowns can occur, leading to environmental and health hazards.


If a nuclear weapon exploded on a nuclear Power Plant would the explosion radius increase?

No, a nuclear explosion on a nuclear power plant would not cause the explosion radius to increase. The explosion radius would be determined by the yield of the nuclear weapon itself, not by the presence of the power plant.


What caused the nuclear reactor to begin to melt down in japan?

the cause of the melt down of the reactors in japan is the water that is needed to cool down the reactors


How does nuclear power hurt when it explodes?

A nuclear power station can not create a nuclear explosion. What CAN happen is that hydrogen could build up inside of the containment dome and if the build up becomes too intense, it can cause a hydrogen explosion, like the one in Japan recently. This explosion is dangerous only if you are close to it and are hit by the concussion or by the debris that is flying from the explosion. If this explosion is too large, it can damage the containment dome surrounding the reactor and this, in turn, releases some radioactive gases.


Can reactors explode?

Not due to fission or a nuclear chain reaction. If the core overheats it can melt through its containment vessel and if it hits water that may have been pooled in the vessel due to a coolant leak and generates steam, it can cause a steam explosion.


What can cause a nuclear power plant blow up?

A steam explosion from flash evaporation of coolant water. This is what blew up Chernobyl.A chemical hydrogen/oxygen gas explosion caused by build up of hydrogen gas in the plant when water decomposes on contact with overheated zirconium fuel rod cladding.A nuclear explosion in a nuclear reactor is not possible, the fuel cannot be assembled into a supercritical mass configuration fast enough (~1ms) as this would require explosives. If the reactor core did suddenly go slightly supercritical, the energy release would simply cause a brief partial meltdown, restoring the material to a subcritical configuration. This could trigger a steam explosion that ejected parts of the reactor core (as happened at Chernobyl) but no nuclear yield would occur.


How does the human race utilize nuclear energy?

Basically, nuclear energy is used in two ways: * In nuclear reactors, to generate electricity. * In nuclear bombs (atom bombs) to cause destruction on a large scale.