Nuclear Reactions

Nuclear Fission and

Fusion
 Fission

When atoms are bombarded with neutrons, their nuclei

splits into 2 parts which are roughly equal in size.

Nuclear fission in the process whereby a nucleus, with

a high mass number, splits into 2 nuclei which have
roughly equal smaller mass numbers.

During nuclear fission, neutrons are released.

 Nuclear Fission

There are 2 types of fission that exist:

1. Spontaneous Fission

2. Induced Fission
 Spontaneous Fission

Some radioisotopes contain nuclei which are highly

unstable and decay spontaneously by splitting into 2
smaller nuclei.

Such spontaneous decays are accompanied by the

release of neutrons.
 Induced Fission

Nuclear fission can be induced by bombarding atoms

with neutrons.

The nuclei of the atoms then split into 2 equal parts.

Induced fission decays are also accompanied by the

release of neutrons.
 The Fission Process
A neutron travels at high speed towards a uranium-235
nucleus.

1 235
0 n 92 U
 The Fission Process
The neutron strikes the nucleus which then captures the
neutron.

1 235
0 n 92 U
 The Fission Process
The nucleus changes from being uranium-235 to
uranium-236 as it has captured a neutron.

236
92 U
 The Fission Process
The uranium-236 nucleus formed is very unstable.

It transforms into an elongated shape for a short time.

 The Fission Process
It then splits into 2 fission fragments and releases
neutrons.

1
0 n
141
56 Ba

1
0 n
92
36 Kr
1
0 n
 Nuclear Fission Examples

235 1 141 92 1

92
U + 0
n 56
Ba + 36
Kr + 3 0
n

235 1 138 96 1

92
U + 0
n 55
Cs + 37
Rb + 2 0
n
 Energy Released

The energy released can be calculated using the equation:

E = mc2 E

Where:
m c2
E = energy released (J)
m = mass difference (kg)
c = speed of light in a vacuum (3 x 108 ms-1 )
 Energy from Fission
Calculate the energy released from the following fission
reaction:
235 1 138 96 1
92 U + 0n 55Cs + 37Rb+ 20n
m = 2.65 x 10-28 kg E = mc2
c = 3 x 108 ms-1 E = 2.65 x 10-28 x (3 x 108)2
E=E E = 2.385 x 10-11 J
 Energy from Fission

The energy released from this fission reaction does not

seem a lot.

This is because it is produced from the fission of a

single nucleus.

Large amounts of energy are released when a large

number of nuclei undergo fission reactions.
 Energy from Fission

Each uranium-235 atom has a mass of 3.9014 x 10-25 kg.

The total number of atoms in 1 kg of uranium-235 can

be found as follows:

No. of atoms in 1 kg of uranium-235 = 1/3.9014 x 10-25

No. of atoms in 1 kg of uranium-235 = 2.56 x 1024 atoms

 Energy from Fission

If one uranium-235 atom undergoes a fission reaction

and releases 2.385 x 10-11 J of energy, then the amount of
energy released by 1 kg of uranium-235 can be
calculated as follows:

total energy = energy per fission x number of atoms

total energy = 2.385 x 10-11 x 2.56 x 1024

total energy = 6.1056 x 1013 J
 Nuclear Fusion
In nuclear fusion, two nuclei with low mass numbers
combine to produce a single nucleus with a higher mass
number.

2 3 4 1

1
H + 1
H 2
He + 0
n + Energy
The Fusion Process

2
1H

3
1H
The Fusion Process

1
0 n
4
2 He
EN
ER
GY
 Energy from Fusion

2 3 4 1

1
H + 1
H 2
He + 0
n + Energy
m = 3.1 x 10-29 kg E = mc2
c = 3 x 108 ms-1 E = 3.1 x 10-29 x (3 x 108)2
E=E E = 2.79 x 10-12 J

The energy released per fusion is 2.79 x 10-12 J.