0
Apart from the primordial hydrogen, helium, and a few other light elements that condensed directly from the big bang, virtually all elemental matter in existence today has experienced both nuclear fusion and fission reactions and decay inside stars. Before fission or decay can happen, there first has to be fusion. These nucleons (which can later cool off, gain electrons and become atoms) have undergone many fusion and decay events through a series of stable and unstable isotopes. Fusion happens in two areas - stellar nucleosynthesis and supernova nucleosynthesis.
Stellar nucleosynthesis occurs in active stars producing certain isotopes of most of the lighter elements, ranked by atomic number from helium (2) up to zinc (30). When elements up to iron (26) are fused with a helium nucleus (alpha particle), they release energy, and this energy helps the star continue with more fusion reactions. The isotopes of cobalt (27), nickel (28), copper (29), and zinc (30) produced by fusion are not stable and decay back into lighter elements. Iron-56 (atomic number 26) is the heaviest stable isotope produced by Stellar nucleosynthesis. Up to this point, fusion reactions are exothermic, meaning they produce excess energy. Fusion reactions that result in elements heavier than iron start to become endothermic, meaning they absorb heat from the environment.
Heavier stable elements cannot be produced by a stellar nucleosynthesis. The fusion reactions producing them are endothermic - they don't return as much energy as they absorbed from the environment to activate. When massive stars run out of fuel for exothermic reactions and try to burn too many heavy elements, the net energy production falls off, the temperature and pressure that normally push the particles apart diminishes, volume decreases, and the star begins to collapse under its own weight. The crowding of nucleons happens as the strong nuclear force is overcome. The mass of the star will then determine if it explodes and/or forms a dwarf, neutron star, or black hole. If it explodes in a supernova, the energy released will support the endothermic fusion reactions needed to form isotopes heavier than iron during supernova nucleosynthesis. These fusion reactions are also known as neutron capture or proton capture. Supernovae return all these formed elements to the interstellar medium, clouds of "stardust" from which solar systems like ours then formed.
Controlled fusion is theoretically possible for humans to conduct on Earth. Tritium and Deuterium, both isotopes and components of 'heavy water', would be fused in a tokomak reactor to create Helium, surplus neutrons and gamma radiation (heat).
What else can I help you with?
What do humans use fission for?
One use is in nuclear power plants to produce steam and turn turbines to generate electricity.Nuclear bombs ^.^
What is released during nuclear reactions?
Energy (in the form of heat), also free neutrons.Binding energy
What two structures disappear during prophase?
During prophase, the nuclear membrane and the nucleolus dissolve and disappear.
The subatonic particles released during a nuclear chain reaction are what?
subatonic particles
What is the definition of a average star?
The point in in a stars evolution during which it maintains a stable nuclear reaction.
Do radioactive elements produce alpha and beta particles only?
No, radioactive elements can also produce gamma rays along with alpha and beta particles. Gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic radiation emitted from the nucleus during nuclear decay.
Does the sun produce hydrogen?
No. It uses hydrogen during nuclear fusion to produce helium.
Atoms of different elements unite during chemical changes to produce what?
Atoms of different elements unite during chemical changes to produce at least one chemical compound.
Do nuclear fuels produce carbon dioxide and why?
No, nuclear fuels do not produce carbon dioxide during the process of generating electricity. Nuclear power plants use uranium as fuel to produce energy through nuclear fission, which does not emit carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.
What changes occurs during a nuclear change?
Elements are created that differ from the reactants.
Do nuclear power station produce co2?
No, nuclear power stations do not produce carbon dioxide (CO2) during the electricity generation process. Nuclear power generates electricity by splitting atoms in a process called nuclear fission, which does not involve the combustion of fossil fuels that produce CO2 emissions.
Does nuclear energy change into electrical energy?
Obviously! It's the same phenomenon that takes place in a nuclear reactor. Radioactive elements such as uranium, thorium etc. are used as fuel to produce electrical energy. An enormous amount of heat is produced during the fission or fusion of these elements and this heat is used to rotate a huge turbine which produces electricity.
Why can the Sun not produce heavier elements beyond carbon and oxygen?
The Sun can only produce elements up to carbon and oxygen through nuclear fusion in its core. For elements heavier than carbon and oxygen, higher temperatures and pressures are required, which can only be achieved in more massive stars or during supernova explosions.
Does nuclear energy produce greenhouse gases?
Nuclear energy does not produce greenhouse gases during the electricity generation process. The main byproduct is radioactive waste, which needs to be stored safely.
What elements were likely generated during a crab nebula explosion?
Elements like carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen were likely generated during a Crab Nebula explosion. These explosions, known as supernovae, are powerful enough to create heavier elements through nuclear fusion processes.
How does uranium and plutonium produce thermal energy?
Uranium and plutonium undergo a process called nuclear fission in a nuclear reactor. During fission, the nucleus of these elements split into smaller fragments, releasing a large amount of thermal energy in the form of heat. This heat is then used to produce steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity.
What happened during nuclear decay?
New elements(or isotopes of decaying element) are produced and energy is released
