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Date	May 2019	Marks available	1	Reference code	19M.3.hl.TZ2.16
Level	HL	Paper	3	Time zone	TZ2
Command term	Outline	Question number	16	Adapted from	N/A

Question

This question is about nuclear reactions.

Fission of a nucleus can be initiated by bombarding it with a neutron.

Determine the other product of the fission reaction of plutonium-239.

${}_{94}^{239}{\text{Pu + }}{}_0^1{\text{n}} \to {}_{54}^{134}{\text{Xe + }}.................{\text{ + 3}}_0^1{\text{n}}$

[1]

a(i).

Outline the concept of critical mass with respect to fission reactions.

[1]

a(ii).

Outline one advantage of allowing all countries access to the technology to generate electricity by nuclear fission.

[1]

a(iii).

State one advantage of using fusion reactions rather than fission to generate electrical power.

[1]

Outline how the energy of a fission reaction can be calculated.

[1]

Calculate the half-life of an isotope whose mass falls from 5.0 × 10⁻⁵ g to 4.0 × 10⁻⁵ g in 31.4 s, using section 1 of the data booklet.

[2]

Markscheme

${}_{40}^{103}{\text{Zr}}$ [✔]

a(i).

minimum mass to «self-»sustain chain reaction
OR
if mass of fissile material is too small, too many neutrons produced pass out of the nuclear fuel
OR
at least one neutron produced causes further reaction [✔]

a(ii).

Any one of:
reduction in emission of greenhouse gases «from burning fossil fuels» [✔]

economic independence/self-sufficiency «from crude oil/producing states» [✔]

uranium is more abundant on Earth «in terms of total energy that can be produced from this fuel» than fossil fuels [✔]

Note: Accept specific greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide/CO2) but not pollutants or other general statements.

a(iii).

Any one of:
fuel is inexpensive/readily available [✔]
no/less radioactive waste is formed [✔]
lower risk of accidents/large-scale disasters [✔]
impossible/harder to use for making materials for nuclear weapons [✔]
larger amounts of energy released per unit mass [✔]
does not require a critical mass [✔]
can be used continuously [✔]

Note: Accept “higher specific energy for fusion”.

Do not accept “no/less waste produced for fusion”.

Accept specific example for a disaster.

mass difference between reactants and products AND E = mc² [✔]

«N = N₀e^–λt»

λ«= $\frac{{ - \ln \left( {\frac{N}{{{N_0}}}} \right)}}{t} = \frac{{ - \ln \left( {\frac{{4.0 \times {{10}^{ - 5}}}}{{5.0 \times {{10}^{ - 5}}}}} \right)}}{{31.4{\text{ s}}}}$ »

= 7.106 × 10^–3 s^–1 [✔]

« ${t_{\frac{1}{2}}} = \frac{{\ln 2}}{\lambda }$ =» 98/97.5 «s» [✔]

Note: Award [2] for correct final answer.

Examiners report

This part was well answered.

a(i).

This part was also fairly well answered although some candidates missed the concept of minimum mass to sustain a chain reaction.

a(ii).

This part saw some reasonable answers, but some other candidates wrote very vague or general answers.

a(iii).

This was a well-answered question with most candidates referring to fusion having less or no radioactive waste.

Most of the candidates were able to state correctly the mass difference between reactants and products and E = mc².

Many candidates were able to calculate the half-life of an isotope correctly.

Syllabus sections

Options » C: Energy » C.3 Nuclear fusion and fission

Show 52 related questions

19N.3.hl.TZ0.18a(i):
State the nuclear equation for the fusion reaction.
17M.3.sl.TZ1.14c:
Nuclear fusion reactors are predicted to become an important source of electrical energy in the future. State two advantages of nuclear fusion over nuclear fission.
18M.3.sl.TZ1.12b:
Suggest one reason why there is opposition to the increased use of nuclear fission reactors.
20N.3.sl.TZ0.10b:
The half-life of ²³⁸U is $4.46 \times 10^{9}$ years. Calculate the mass of ²³⁸U that remains after $0.639 kg$ has decayed for $2.23 \times 10^{10}$ years.
18N.3.sl.TZ0.9b.i: Outline why the term breeder is used for the reactors.
18N.3.sl.TZ0.9b.ii: Deduce the fission reaction when 239Pu is bombarded with a neutron to produce 133Xe and 103Zr.
18N.3.sl.TZ0.9a: Explain fusion reactions with reference to binding energy.
18N.3.hl.TZ0.12a: Explain fusion reactions with reference to binding energy.
18N.3.hl.TZ0.12b.ii: Deduce the fission reaction when 239Pu is bombarded with a neutron to produce 133Xe and 103Zr.
18N.3.hl.TZ0.12b.i: Outline why the term breeder is used for the reactors.
19N.3.sl.TZ0.13a(ii): Explain why fusion is an exothermic process.
17N.3.sl.TZ0.14a.i:
Compare and contrast fission and fusion in terms of binding energy and the types of nuclei involved.
17M.3.sl.TZ1.14b.i:
Deduce the identity of X.
19M.3.hl.TZ1.16a(ii):
Outline why the reaction releases energy.
19M.3.sl.TZ2.11a(i):
Determine the other product of the fission reaction of plutonium-239.
18M.3.sl.TZ2.13a:
Compare and contrast the process of nuclear fusion with nuclear fission.
19M.3.sl.TZ1.12c:
The daughter product, ⁸⁹Kr, has a half-life of 3.15 min.

Calculate the time required, in minutes, for the mass of ⁸⁹Kr to fall to 6.25 % of its initial value.
19M.3.sl.TZ1.12a(ii):
Outline why the reaction releases energy.
17M.3.sl.TZ2.12a.ii:
Explain why this fusion reaction releases energy by using section 36 of the data booklet.
19M.3.sl.TZ1.12a(i):
Write the nuclear equation for this fission reaction.
19N.3.hl.TZ0.18a(ii): Explain why fusion is an exothermic process.
17N.3.sl.TZ0.14b:
The amount of ²²⁸Ac in a sample decreases to one eighth $\left( {\frac{1}{8}} \right)$ of its original value in about 18 hours due to β-decay. Estimate the half-life of ²²⁸Ac.
19M.3.sl.TZ1.12b:
The critical mass for weapons-grade uranium can be as small as 15 kg. Outline what is meant by critical mass by referring to the equation in (a)(i).
17M.3.sl.TZ1.14b.ii:
Outline why this reaction results in a release of energy.
19N.3.hl.TZ0.18b:
Beryllium-8 is a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 6.70 × 10⁻¹⁷ s.

Calculate the mass of beryllium-8 remaining after 2.01 × 10⁻¹⁶ s from a sample initially containing 4.00 g of beryllium-8.
19M.3.sl.TZ2.11a(ii):
Outline the concept of critical mass with respect to fission reactions.
16N.3.sl.TZ0.15b:
Radioactive phosphorus, ³³P, has a half-life of 25.3 days.

(i) Calculate ³³P decay constant λ and state its unit. Use section 1 of the data booklet.

(ii) Determine the fraction of the ³³P sample remaining after 101.2 days.
19M.3.hl.TZ1.16a(i):
Write the nuclear equation for this fission reaction.
17M.3.sl.TZ1.14a:
Outline how the spectra of light from stars can be used to detect the presence of carbon.
17M.3.sl.TZ2.12a.i:
One fusion reaction occurring in the sun is the fusion of deuterium, ${}_1^2H$ , with tritium, ${}_1^3H$ , to form helium, ${}_2^4He$ . State a nuclear equation for this reaction.
19M.3.sl.TZ2.11c:
⁹⁰Sr, a common product of fission, has a half-life of 28.8 years.

Determine the number of years for the activity of a sample of ⁹⁰Sr to fall to one eighth ( $\frac{1}{8}$ ) of its initial value.
19M.3.sl.TZ2.11b:
State one advantage of using fusion reactions rather than fission to generate electrical power.
18N.3.hl.TZ0.12c:
Nuclear disasters release radioactive caesium into the atmosphere, which presents serious health risks.

Cs-137 has a half-life of 30 years.

Calculate the percentage of Cs-137 remaining in the atmosphere after 240 years.
17N.3.sl.TZ0.14a.ii:
Suggest two advantages that fusion has over fission.
16N.3.sl.TZ0.15a:
(i) Explain why fusion, combining two smaller nuclei into a larger nucleus, releases vast amounts of energy. Use section 36 of the data booklet.

(ii) Outline one advantage of fusion as a source of energy.
19M.3.hl.TZ1.16b:
The critical mass for weapons-grade uranium can be as small as 15 kg. Outline what is meant by critical mass by referring to the equation in (a)(i).
19M.3.hl.TZ2.16a(i):
Determine the other product of the fission reaction of plutonium-239.

${}_{94}^{239}{\text{Pu + }}{}_0^1{\text{n}} \to {}_{54}^{134}{\text{Xe + }}.................{\text{ + 3}}_0^1{\text{n}}$
19M.3.hl.TZ2.16a(iii):
Outline one advantage of allowing all countries access to the technology to generate electricity by nuclear fission.
19N.3.sl.TZ0.13a(i):
State the nuclear equation for the fusion reaction.
20N.3.hl.TZ0.12d:
Deduce the nuclear equation for the decay of uranium-238 to thorium-234.
18M.3.sl.TZ2.13b:
Dubnium-261 has a half-life of 27 seconds and rutherfordium-261 has a half-life of 81 seconds.

Estimate what fraction of the dubnium-261 isotope remains in the same amount of time that $\frac{3}{4}$ of rutherfordium-261 decays.
19M.3.sl.TZ2.11a(iii):
Outline one advantage of allowing all countries access to the technology to generate electricity by nuclear fission.
19M.3.hl.TZ2.16b:
State one advantage of using fusion reactions rather than fission to generate electrical power.
19N.3.sl.TZ0.13b:
Beryllium-8 is a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 6.70 × 10⁻¹⁷ s.

Calculate the mass of beryllium-8 remaining after 2.01 × 10⁻¹⁶ s from a sample initially containing 4.00 g of beryllium-8.
20N.3.hl.TZ0.12e: Thorium-234 has a higher binding energy per nucleon than uranium-238. Outline what is meant...
20N.3.sl.TZ0.10e: Thorium-234 has a higher binding energy per nucleon than uranium-238. Outline what is meant...
20N.3.sl.TZ0.10c: Outline a health risk produced by exposure to radioactive decay.
20N.3.sl.TZ0.10d:
Deduce the nuclear equation for the decay of uranium-238 to thorium-234.
18M.3.sl.TZ1.12a.ii:
Explain how ²³⁵U fission results in a chain reaction, including the concept of critical mass.
20N.3.hl.TZ0.12c: Outline a health risk produced by exposure to radioactive decay.
18N.3.sl.TZ0.9c:
Nuclear disasters release radioactive caesium into the atmosphere, which presents serious health risks.

Cs-137 has a half-life of 30 years.

Calculate the percentage of Cs-137 remaining in the atmosphere after 240 years.
20N.3.hl.TZ0.12b:
The half-life of ²³⁸U is $4.46 \times 10^{9}$ years. Calculate the mass of ²³⁸U that remains after $0.639 kg$ has decayed for $2.23 \times 10^{10}$ years.

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