Atomic Bomb Chemistry Report

1197 Words5 Pages
\Atomic Bomb Awareness Kit Chemistry Report Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. They have different masses due to the different number of neutrons in their nuclei. Due to the fact that they have the same electronic configuration, isotopes of the same element have similar chemical properties but different physical properties. Isotopes of the same element can either be naturally occurring or formed as a result of nuclear reactions. Radioactive isotopes undergo radioactive decay while stable isotopes do not. Isotopes of different elements, Uranium and Plutonium, are used in the two different atomic bombs, the Little Boy and the Fat man. The Little Boy bomb utilised an isotope…show more content…
In essence, the Little Boy design consisted of a gun that fired one mass of uranium 235 at another mass of uranium 235, thus creating a supercritical mass. The two pieces of U-235 was brought together faster than the time between spontaneous fissions. Once the two pieces of uranium are brought together, the initiator introduces a burst of neutrons and the chain reaction begins, continuing until the energy released becomes so great that the bomb simply blows itself apart. "Fat Man" was an implosion-type bomb. Explosives surrounding the fissile material were simultaneously detonated, releasing a shock that compresses the core. It increases the core density of the fissile material until the mass becomes supercritical. At that point, neutrons are released and a chain reaction continues until the energy generated inside the bomb becomes so great that the internal pressure exceeds the implosion pressure, which releases energy to the surroundings, resulting in the…show more content…
Nuclei of the hydrogen isotopes Deuterium and Tritium are fused together to form Helium, releasing massive amount of energy that leads to the explosion. The fusion reaction of Deuterium and Tritium in Hydrogen bombs can only take place at very high temperatures of millions of degrees. This condition can only be achieved by having the initial detonation of an atomic bomb which triggers a fission reaction. Hydrogen bombs contain an atomic bomb in it. The detonation of Atomic bombs come from a nuclear fission chain reaction. By means of a gun-type assembly method or an implosion method, the Uranium or Plutonium in the bomb is able to reach a critical mass, which meant that every neutron ejected from one atom, has virtually a 100% probability of triggering another neutron loss upon collision with another atom. Once it reaches the critical mass, a chain fission reaction occurs that releases immense energy, albeit lower than that of a Hydrogen

More about Atomic Bomb Chemistry Report

Open Document