Scribd
Upload
162 views

Nuclear Reactions

A nuclear reaction occurs when atoms collide and lose mass, which is converted to energy according to E=mc2. The two main nuclear reactions that produce energy are nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Nuclear fission involves splitting heavy nuclei into lighter nuclei and releasing energy, while nuclear fusion combines lighter nuclei into heavier nuclei and releases energy. Both reactions convert a small amount of mass into a large amount of energy according to Einstein's equation. Nuclear fusion requires extremely high temperatures to overcome electrostatic repulsion between nuclei.

Uploaded by

Joseph Manase
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
162 views

Nuclear Reactions

A nuclear reaction occurs when atoms collide and lose mass, which is converted to energy according to E=mc2. The two main nuclear reactions that produce energy are nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Nuclear fission involves splitting heavy nuclei into lighter nuclei and releasing energy, while nuclear fusion combines lighter nuclei into heavier nuclei and releases energy. Both reactions convert a small amount of mass into a large amount of energy according to Einstein's equation. Nuclear fusion requires extremely high temperatures to overcome electrostatic repulsion between nuclei.

Uploaded by

Joseph Manase
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

NUCLEAR REACTIONS

A nuclear reaction is a process in which atoms collide with other atoms and lose some of their
original mass. Because of the principle of energy conservation the lost mass must reappear as
generated energy, according to Einstein's equation E = mc².
The two types of nuclear reactions used to produce energy are:-
1. Nuclear Fission…is a nuclear reaction in which heavy nucleus of high binding energy per
nucleon split into lighter nuclei of low binding energy per nucleon
2. Nuclear Fusion...is a nuclear reaction in which lighter nuclei of low binding energy per
nucleon combine and form heavy nucleus of higher binding energy per nucleon

1. IN A FISSION REACTION- a heavy atomic nucleus is split into smaller nuclei, other
particles and radiation. In a typical reaction, an atom of uranium 235 absorbs a neutron and splits
into two lighter atoms, barium and krypton, emitting radiation and neutrons. Under special
circumstances (the attainment of a "critical mass") the emitted neutrons can split further atoms,
which in turn bring about more splitting, producing a very fast chain reaction. Nuclear power
plants exploit the process of fission to create energy.

2. IN A FUSION REACTION- two or more light atomic nuclei fuse/combine to form a single
heavier nucleus. The mass change in the process is the source of nuclear energy. Fusion within the
cores of the sun and other stars generates their radiating energy by fusing two hydrogen atoms to
produce a helium atom.
The fusion of deuterium with tritium creates helium-4, frees a remaining neutron, and releases
energy. Because E=MC2, when two atoms are fused, a very small amount of mass can be converted
into a large amount of energy.
Fusion reactions are accompanied by a much greater mass to energy conversion than in fission
reactions.

Nuclear fusion requires extremely high temperatures. This is because the small nuclei require
enough kinetic energy to overcome their electrostatic repulsion. The energy we receive from the
sun is from nuclear fusion. The sun is made up mainly of hydrogen and helium. Within the sun the
temperature is millions of degrees Celsius, there is the constant fusion of small nuclei into larger
nuclei.

 Differences btn nuclear fission and nuclear fusion


Nuclear Fusion Nuclear Fission
1. It is a combination of lighter nuclei 1. It is a splitting of heavy nucleus.
2. It accompany with absorption of energy 2. It accompany with liberation of energy
3. It result increase of number of nucleon in 3. It result decrease of number of nucleon in
the nucleus. the nucleus.
4. It result formation of unstable nucleus 4. It result formation of stable nucleus

 Differences btn Nuclear Reaction and Chemical reaction

Nuclear reaction Chemical reaction


1.it involve change of nuclear composition 1.it does not involve change of nuclear
composition
2.it does not involve electrons 2. it involve electron called valence.

 USES OF RADIOACTIVITY
1. Uses in medicine
 Radioisotopes can be used as tracers for diagnosis or for the treatments such as
radiotherapy, e.g.
 Iodine-123 , a gamma emitter, is used to study the thyroid gland
 Gamma radiation is used to kill cancerous tumours deep in the body
2. Thickness control in the manufacturing
 Beta radiation is used to control the thickness of paper during manufacturing
3. Alpha source used in smoke detectors
 Alpha is easily absorbed by smoke particles and the detector will signal an alarm
when the radiation level drops.
4. Food irradiation
 Gamma radiation can penetrate deep into food and kill harmful bacteria.
5. Radiocarbon dating
 The half-life of carbon 14 is 5400years. By measuring the ratio of carbon 14 to
carbon 12 we can calculate the age of organic material.

You might also like