Harmful chemical spills can often be cleaned up by treatment with...

Question

Harmful chemical spills can often be cleaned up by treatment with another chemical. For example, a spill of H₂SO₄ might be neutralized by addition of NaHCO₃. Why is it that the harmful radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants cannot be cleaned up as easily?

Accepted Answer

Welcome back. Everyone in a chemical laboratory, a way to handle a chemical spill such as a spill of a strong acid like hydrochloric acid is to neutralize it with a weak base like sodium bicarbonate. We need to explain why harmful radioactive wastes from nuclear plants cannot be cleaned up as easily as cleaning up chemical spills. So in choice, a it states that nuclear reactions are spontaneous, radioactive waste from nuclear plants cannot be chemically neutralized since no substance can react with them. Then in choice B it states that nuclear reactions are non spontaneous and radioactive wastes from nuclear plants cannot be chemically neutralized since there is no substance that can react with them. And then in choice C it states that nuclear reactions are spontaneous and radioactive wastes from nuclear plants cannot be acidified since no substance can react with them. And then in choice D it states that nuclear reactions are non spontaneous and radioactive wastes from nuclear plants cannot be acidified since no substance can react with them. Let's begin by recalling some facts. Our first fact is going to be with regard to a nucleus and its stability. So let's recall that for a nucleus to attain stability. It will undergo a nuclear reaction in which we have the release of protons which will express as capital P and or neutrons, which will express as capital M N sorry spontaneously. So this is a spontaneous release of protons and neutrons. We can also recall that with regards to radioactive waste hazards, even just a low dose has been proven to lead to nausea as well as vomiting followed by even a decrease in white blood cells over long-term exposure. And we also want to recall that for just a high dose of radioactive waste, we can undergo the following risks where we can have hemorrhaging. We can also experience death ultimately. And with regards to high doses of radioactive waste, we can also undergo dangerous cleanup due to these risks. Now, with regard to nuclear reactions, we want to recall that nuclear reactions are actually spontaneous. And we're going to also recall that for radioactive wastes, which we use as R W s for shorthand are not chemically neutralized and nuclear reactions. And due to the fact that radioactive wastes are not chemically neutralized, we would say that therefore there are no suitable reactants in nuclear reactions. And based on what we've outlined, we can instantly rule out our answer choices which state that nuclear reactions are non spontaneous, which would be choice B as well as choice D. And that leaves us between choice A and C in which as we stated, below radioactive wastes and nuclear reactions are not chemically neutralized. And so therefore, there's no suitable reactants. And so because toy C states that radioactive waste cannot be acidified, we would rule out choice c because our focus is that radioactive wastes cannot be chemically neutralized. And so our final answer is going to be choice. A which explains why harmful radioactive wastes from nuclear plants can't be cleaned up as easily as cleaning up chemical spills. Due to the fact that nuclear reactions are spontaneous and radioactive wastes from nuclear plants cannot be chemically neutralized since no substance can react with them. So a is our final answer. I hope this made sense and let us know if you have any questions.

Struggling with GOB Chemistry?

Harmful chemical spills can often be cleaned up by treatment with another chemical. For example, a spill of H₂SO₄ might be neutralized by addition of NaHCO₃. Why is it that the harmful radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants cannot be cleaned up as easily?

Watch next

Radioactive Half-Life practice set