1 Tritium 1 3H goes through decay Note atomic masses can b

1) Tritium ( 1 3H) goes through - decay

Note, atomic masses can be found in Appendix F of the textbook. The atomic mass of: an electron is 0.00054858 u a proton is 1.007276 u a neutron is 1.008665 u

a) How many protons are in the Tritium nucleus?

b) How many neutrons are in the Tritium nucleus?

c) What is the total binding energy of the Tritium nucleus?

d) Write the nuclear reaction equation for the decay.

e) During the decay of a single Tritium atom, how much energy is released?

Solution

a) Number of protons are in the Tritium nucleus = 1

b) Number of neutrons are in the Tritium nucleus = 2

c) The total binding energy of the Tritium nucleus E = ?

mass of tritium M = 3.0160492 u

Mass defect dm = 2(mass of neutron) +1(proton mass) - M

                        = 2(1.008665 u) + 1.007276 u - 3.0160492 u

                        = 8.5568 x10 ^-3 u

We know 1 u = 931.5 MeV

So, E = dm x 931.5 MeV

         = 8.5568 x10 ^-3 x931.5 MeV

         = 7.9706592 MeV

d) the nuclear reaction equation for the decay is

³₁ H -->³₂ He ⁺ + e ^-1 +anti neutrino

e)During decay of a single Tritium atom, energy is released E \' = ?

mass defect dm = mass of ³₁ H -( mass of ³₂ He ) - mass of electron

                        = (3.0160492 u) - 3.0160293191 u -0.00054858 u

                        = -5.28699 x10 ^-4 u

So, E \' = (-5.28699 x10 ^-4 ) x931.5 MeV

= -0.4924 MeV