Question

The first elements to be produced in the laboratory were plutonium and neptunium. Neptunium was produced by bombarding Uranium-238 with neutrons, which led to the formation of beta particles and neptunium. Which of the following is the most accurate description of the process?"

a) F.
b) G.
c) H.
d) J.

Answer 1

Neptunium and plutonium are produced by neutron bombardment of uranium-238, leading to subsequent β decays. This process contributed to the extension of the periodic table and the synthesis of elements beyond uranium.

Step-by-step explanation:

The production of neptunium and plutonium involves the bombardment of uranium-238 with neutrons in a nuclear reactor. When U-238 nuclei capture neutrons, they transform into uranium-239. This uranium-239 is unstable and undergoes β decay to form neptunium-239. The neptunium-239 itself undergoes another β decay to form plutonium-239. The process of creating these elements signified an expansion of the periodic table beyond its natural limits, allowing the synthesis of elements beyond uranium.

Initially, Enrico Fermi attempted to create new elements by bombarding uranium with neutrons, but could not identify the exact products formed. It was only later that scientists like McMillan and Abelson produced neptunium, leading to the discovery that uranium had split into smaller nuclei. This discovery opened the gates for synthesis of successive elements, including plutonium.