Spontaneous endothermic nuclear reaction?

In summary, it is difficult to achieve a spontaneous endothermic reaction in a controlled setting, and even less likely at room temperature.
  • #1
pancake
6
0
is such a thing possible? I am curious to know if this could/does exist.

An alternative would be if someone gave an example of a reaction where electron capture occurs and the product ends up being stable enough to not decay into anything further.

Thanks

(btw, does cold fission exist? If so, is there an example/article/video about it?)
 
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  • #2
What is cold fission?

You mean cold fusion right?
 
  • #3
To have a spontaneous endothermic reaction, say,

A + e = B

the difference between internal energies of B and A has to be greater than zero (or else the process is not endothermic), but smaller than the energy of the electron (or else the reaction won't go through).

This is extremely improbable at room temperature, because nuclear energy levels are measured in keV and MeV, and room-temperature electron energies are fractions of eV.

One way to think about it is to reverse the process. A forward process (endothermic electron capture) is a reverse of beta decay. If you can find an isotope that goes through a beta decay and only emits 1 keV or less in energy, you can put the process in reverse by heating the product of beta decay and eventually you'll start seeing what you want.

Makes sense?
 
  • #4
To 1st poster: Fission, fusion, whichever. As long as it's cold.

And to 2nd poster, is there an example of this?
 
  • #5
does anyone know an example of the stuff mentioned in first post?
 
  • #6
hamster, would heating the beta decay product into the reaction be spontaneous?
 
Last edited:
  • #7
Define "spontaneous".
 
  • #8
Dictionary.com - Happening or arising without apparent external cause; self-generated; natural and unconstrained

btw, do you know of anything that emits only 1 keV or less when it beta decays or anywhere where I can find such information?
 
  • #9
There are some tables of nuclides online, the lowest I see is Rhenium 187 that beta decays into Osmium 187 and emits 2.6 keV. I can't find any references that the inverse process is in fact possible, but it should be.

"Spontaneous" usually refers to decays, it's not commonly used for many-body interactions.
 
  • #10
I think spontaneous just means it will occur without any prodding from us.

so a < 1keV beta decay doesn't exist?
 

What is a spontaneous endothermic nuclear reaction?

A spontaneous endothermic nuclear reaction is a type of nuclear reaction in which the reactants spontaneously undergo a change in their nuclei, releasing energy in the form of heat. This type of reaction is characterized by an increase in temperature or a decrease in energy of the reactants.

What causes a spontaneous endothermic nuclear reaction?

A spontaneous endothermic nuclear reaction occurs when the reactants have an unstable nucleus, meaning that their atoms are not in a state of equilibrium. This instability causes the atoms to undergo a change in their nuclei, releasing energy in the form of heat.

What is the difference between a spontaneous endothermic and an exothermic nuclear reaction?

The main difference between a spontaneous endothermic and an exothermic nuclear reaction is the direction of energy flow. In a spontaneous endothermic reaction, energy is absorbed from the surroundings, causing an increase in temperature. In contrast, in an exothermic reaction, energy is released from the reactants, causing a decrease in temperature.

Can a spontaneous endothermic nuclear reaction be controlled?

Yes, a spontaneous endothermic nuclear reaction can be controlled through the use of a catalyst or by controlling the temperature and pressure of the reactants. This allows for the reaction to occur at a desired rate and for the amount of energy released to be regulated.

What are some real-life applications of spontaneous endothermic nuclear reactions?

Spontaneous endothermic nuclear reactions have many practical applications, including nuclear energy production, nuclear medicine, and nuclear weapons. They are also used in smoke detectors, which contain a small amount of a radioactive substance that undergoes a spontaneous endothermic reaction, producing a small amount of heat that triggers the alarm. Additionally, these reactions are used in carbon dating to determine the age of organic materials and in food preservation to kill harmful bacteria.

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