Question
Question: An Isotopic species of \(LiH\) is a potential nuclear fuel. On the basis of the reaction calculate t...
An Isotopic species of LiH is a potential nuclear fuel. On the basis of the reaction calculate the expected power production in MW, associated with 1.00gm of LiH per day. ( process is 100% efficient)
36Li+12H224He
[36Li=6.01512u,12H=2.01410u,24He=4.00260u] u is in amu and 1u=931MeV
Solution
If there is a difference in the predicted mass value and the observed mass value, the excess mass is said to be associated with a certain amount of energy. This energy is responsible for the power production.
Complete step by step answer:
We need to first calculate if there is a mass defect and if there is what is the value of the mass defect.
ΔM=Mfinal−Minitial
Where ΔM= mass defect
Hence, ΔM=2×MHe−[MLi+MH]
On substituting the values of masses of hydrogen , helium and lithium we get
⇒ΔM=2×4.00260−[6.01512+2.01410]
⇒ΔM=−0.0240u
The negative sign tells us that the initial mass is greater than final mass,
∴ There is a mass defect.
E=mc2
⇒E=0.0240×931×106eV
⇒E=22.344eV
To convert eVto Joules multiply by 1.6×10−19
⇒E=22.344×1.6×10−12J
⇒E=3.59×10−12J
For Molal energy of LiH will be=3.58×10−12×6.022×1023Jmol−1
=2.16×1012Jmol−1
Mass of LiH= Mass of Li+ Mass of H
[MLi=7gMH=1g]
∴MLiH=7+1
⇒8g
Energy Per gram of LiH=MassofLiHMolalenergyofLiH×GivenmassofLiH
On substituting the values of energy and mass , we get
⇒E=82.16×10−12×1.00Jg−1
⇒E=0.27×1012Jg−1
Energy of LiH produced per second = 24×60×600.27×1012Jg−1s−1
⇒3.125×106Js−1g−1
[1W=1Js−1]
∴EnergyofLiH=3.125×106Wg−1
or E=3.125MW
Note:
Since the efficiency is 100% there is no need to multiply this value, but if the question had specified any other percentage of efficiency, it would have been multiplied by the same. For example; 96% efficiency would mean only 96% of the produced energy is being harnessed and hence the power production value would be multiplied by a factor of 0.96.
Be careful with the conversion as there are multiple conversions taking place. In order to minimise error, write down the units at the end of every step and tally the units with the previous equation at every step and also mention the answer in the Units specified in the question only.