Choose the WRONG statement. A thermonuclear fusion reactor is better t...
Explanation:
The wrong statement among the given options is option B: "The fuel required for fusion is readily available in abundance from seawater."
Reason:
- While it is correct that a thermonuclear fusion reactor is better than a fission reactor for several reasons, including higher energy release and less radioactive waste production, the availability of fuel from seawater is not accurate.
- Fusion reactions require isotopes of hydrogen, such as deuterium and tritium, as fuel. Deuterium can be extracted from seawater, but tritium is a radioactive isotope that is not naturally abundant and needs to be produced artificially.
- Tritium can be produced by exposing lithium to neutron radiation, which can be generated by a fission reactor or a fusion reactor itself. However, the process of producing tritium is not as straightforward as extracting deuterium from seawater.
- Tritium is also highly radioactive and has a short half-life, which means it requires careful handling and containment. It cannot be easily stored or transported.
- Therefore, the fuel required for fusion reactions is not readily available in abundance from seawater, as stated in option B.
Correct statements:
a) For the same mass of substances involved, a fusion reaction releases much more energy than a fission reaction.
- This is true. Fusion reactions release a tremendous amount of energy, several times more than fission reactions. The fusion of hydrogen atoms into helium is the same process occurring in the Sun and other stars, which produces immense amounts of energy.
c) A fusion reaction can be much more easily controlled than a fission reaction.
- This is true. Fusion reactions require extremely high temperatures and pressures to sustain, and if these conditions are not maintained, the reaction will cease. This inherent stability makes fusion reactions more easily controllable than fission reactions, which can lead to runaway chain reactions if not properly regulated.
d) A fusion reaction produces almost no radioactive waste.
- This is true. Fusion reactions do not produce long-lived radioactive waste like fission reactions. The only radioactive byproduct of fusion is tritium, which has a relatively short half-life and can be managed safely.
In summary, option B is the wrong statement because the fuel required for fusion reactions is not readily available in abundance from seawater.
Choose the WRONG statement. A thermonuclear fusion reactor is better t...
BBB