Chapter 3: Unit 8. Nuclear Fission and Fusion

Nuclear Fission and Fusion

Nuclear fission is the splitting apart of a heavy nucleus into lighter nuclei and neutrons. When a heavy nucleus of Uranium-235 is bombarded with a neutron, it splits into smaller elements and few other neutrons. Those neutrons again collide with other nuclei and the chain reaction continues.

Nuclear Fission reaction diagram:

The main important part of this kind of nuclear reaction is the generation of HUGE amount of energy which is called atomic energy. The fission energy generated from nuclear plants have application in producing electricity and in many other fields.

Nuclear fusion is another type of nuclear reaction and is described as joining together of two light nuclei to form larger nucleus.

Both nuclear fission and fusion release good deal of energy. Nuclear fission is used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity. Nuclear fusion occurs in stars.

All the trans-uranium elements (elements with atomic numbers greater than 92)  are artificially prepared by a fusion process in which the heavy nuclei is bombarded with lighter atom.

Nuclear Fusion Reaction

When deuterium and Tritium nuclei are converted into Helium nucleus extra mass is released as energy.

Watch this out!

The following information taken from AACT

Here is the Lise Mietner Video on Vimeo about Nuclear Fission and Fusion reaction

https://player.vimeo.com/video/120411660?dnt=1&app_id=122963

This video tells the story of Lise Meitner, a pioneering female scientist in the field of nuclear chemistry, who was denied a Nobel Prize but has an Element named in her honor.

Lise Meitner Video Questions

Instructions

While watching the Founder of Chemistry Video about Lise Meitner, answer the following questions:

1. Lise Meitner helped discover the process of nuclear fission. What are the two nuclear developments made possible by her discovery?

1. Why did Meitner attend private school throughout her life?

1. What scientific development was Max Planck responsible for?

1. What element did Meitner and Hahn discover together?

1. Meitner and other scientists experimented with Uranium by bombarding the element with neutrons. What were the scientists hoping to discover?

1. The process of fission supports a famous equation, and scientist. What is the equation, and who is the scientist?

1. Is energy absorbed or released during an exothermic reaction?

1. What atomic number is Meitnerium, the element named after Meitner?