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In \(1939\), German scientists Otto Hahn and F. Strassman discovered the process of nuclear fission. When a uranium nucleus is bombarded with a neutron, it splits up into two smaller nuclei of equivalent mass, emitting a few neutrons and some amount of energy.
Nuclear fission
Nuclear fission is the process of splitting or breaking up a heavy nucleus into two smaller nuclei with the release of a huge quantity of energy and a few neutrons.
Example:
Nuclear fission of a uranium nucleus (\(U^{235}\))
Splitting of a uranium nucleus
\(_{92}U^{235}\) \(+\) \(_{0}n^{1}\) \(\rightarrow\) \(_{56}Ba^{141}\) \(+\) \(_{36}Kr^{92}\) \(+\) \(3\) \(_{0}n^{1}\) \(+\) \(Q\) (\(energy\))
The average energy released in each process of nuclear fission is about \(3.2 \times{10^{-11}}\) \(J\).
Features of fission reaction:
Some of the salient features of a fission reaction are
Some of the salient features of a fission reaction are
- A fission reaction occurs if the nucleus of a heavy atom (\(U\ -235\)) is bombarded with a slow-moving neutron.
- Fast-moving neutrons cannot produce a fission reaction.
- The products of a fission reaction are a lighter nucleus of atomic mass ranging from \(85\) to \(104\), a heavy nucleus of atomic mass ranging from \(130\) and \(149\) with two or three neutrons.
- Fission reaction is accompanied by the release of an enormous amount of energy in the form of light and heat.
- Sometimes, fission reaction produces \(γ\)-radiations of a very shorter wavelength.
Reference:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liquid_drop_model_of_nuclear_fission.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CNX_Chem_21_04_Fission1.png
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