Samantha Rowe Chemistry Halvin 03 June 2013 Nuclear Power With the technology available today, many scientists

are attempting to figure out an efficient and simple way to produce energy that does not harm the environment. So far they have come up with biofuels, fossil fuels, pumped storage, solar, wind, tidal, hydroelectric, wave, geothermic, and nuclear power. One energy resource that is not harmful to the environment is nuclear power that is, if you spend millions of dollars on safety precautions. Nuclear power is the electric or motive power generated by a nuclear reactor in order to create heat and electricity. Like copper, silver, and coal, uranium is mined from the ground. This is the first step to creating nuclear energy. From there, the uranium is formed into small pellets which are then placed inside a tube located in a nuclear reactor. Next, the pellets become bombarded with neutrons leading to nuclear fission of the uranium atoms. Nuclear fission, the process which involves the splitting of the nucleus of atoms, then creates massive amounts of heat. The heat is next used to turn the water into steam. The steam generated from the heat is then used to turn turbine blades. The blades begin to turn, spinning the plants generator. Once the generator begins to spin, it creates electricity. This is the process that produces nuclear energy. Whats the simpler version? Nuclear power plants form a chain reaction which, in turn, creates heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants are very dangerous and can give off radiation. This is why there are many steps and safety requirements and precautionary systems that must be in place when

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dealing with nuclear energy. During radiation, subatomic particles travel at or near the velocity of light (186,000 miles per second). These particles have the ability to penetrate deep inside the human body, where they can then further damage biological cells and initiate cancer. Nuclear power plants produce materials that are active in releasing radiation and are therefore called "radioactive". These materials can come into contact with people through small releases during plant operation, accidents in nuclear power plants, accidents in transporting radioactive materials, and escape of radioactive wastes from confinement systems. In order to prevent radiation from happening, take the following precautions when working at a nuclear power plant. Keep the first, second, and third barriers intact. The radioactive fission process occurs only inside the fuel cladding, which is located in the first barrier. The radioactivity will remain contained and wont leak as long as the fuel cladding is undamaged and free of cracks or holes. The second barrier consists of the reactor coolant system that supplies water to cool the core. As long as this barrier is intact, it will prevent the release of radiation. The third barrier acts as the containment structure. Even if leaks occur in the first two barriers, the containment structure will prevent release of radiation to the atmosphere. Next, limit time in the radiologically controlled areas when working or visiting a nuclear power plant and carry only necessary objects when entering an radiologically controlled area. Do not touch anything you are not required to touch inside of the nuclear power plant, and exercise great care when exiting the power plant. When looking for energy sources available for the short term, nuclear power is not the way to go. Nuclear power is very expensive the amount of time and money it takes to build nuclear facilities is not worth supplying energy for only a short amount of time. Maybe in the

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long run, the expenses of nuclear energy would pay off, but for right now, perhaps there are most likely other energy sources that can efficiently provide energy without such a high cost. On the contrary, nuclear energy has just as many benefits as it does costs. Nuclear energy is the world's largest source of emission-free energy. Nuclear power plants produce no controlled air pollutants or greenhouse gases. The use of nuclear energy in place of other energy sources helps to keep the air clean, preserve the Earth's climate, avoid ground-level ozone formation and prevent acid rain. Of all energy sources, nuclear energy has perhaps the lowest impact on the environment, including water, land, habitat, species, and air resources. Nuclear energy is the most eco-efficient of all energy sources because it produces the most electricity relative to its environmental impact. Nuclear plants do not emit harmful gases or require a relatively small area, but they do effectively minimize and negate other impacts. In other words, nuclear energy is the most "ecologically efficient" of all energy sources because it produces the most electricity in relation to its minimal environmental impact. There are no hostile effects to water, land, habitat, species, and air resources. Nuclear energy is an emission-free energy source because it does not burn anything to produce electricity. Nuclear power plants produce no gases such as nitrogen oxide or sulfur dioxide that could threaten our atmosphere by causing ground-level ozone formation, smog, and acid rain. Nuclear energy does not produce carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases suspected to cause global warming either. Nuclear power plants have long periods of operation. They are designed to operate continuously for long periods of time. They can run about 540 days before they are shut down for refueling. The costs involved in producing electricity at a nuclear power plant, operations and maintenance plus fuel, have been declining over the past decade. Power plants have future price

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stability. A nuclear power plant can leverage its high degree of future price stability by selling at a premium to large users an assured source of electricity supply at a known price. Therefore, in the long run, nuclear energy could be the way to go. I believe that when thinking about all the benefits nuclear energy provides for our environment, it is definitely something scientists and governments should think about investing in. Although in the short-term, it is highly expensive, nuclear energy is definitely worth the cost and effort it takes to provide us with a source of energy. Nuclear energy should definitely be taken into consideration.