Notes: Nuclear Fission and Fusion Reactions
Notes: Nuclear Fission and Fusion Reactions
Notes: Nuclear Fission and Fusion Reactions
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NUCLEAR<br />
FISSION AND<br />
FUSION<br />
NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
GOALS<br />
0 To distinguish between fission <strong>and</strong> fusion reactions<br />
0 To describe what happens in a nuclear chain reaction
NUCLEAR FISSION<br />
0 What it is:<br />
0 A reaction where a large nucleus splits into smaller nuclei<br />
0 Accompanied by a large release of energy
NUCLEAR FISSION<br />
0 How it happens: Bombardment <strong>Reactions</strong><br />
0 A fissionable atom is bombarded with neutrons which causes the<br />
nucleus to split
NUCLEAR FISSION<br />
0 Example<br />
1<br />
n +<br />
235<br />
U !<br />
92<br />
Kr +<br />
141<br />
Ba +<br />
1<br />
0 92 36 56<br />
30 n + energy
CHAIN REACTIONS<br />
0 Occur when the fission of one nucleus triggers fission of<br />
many other nuclei
CHAIN REACTIONS<br />
0 Neutrons produced in the fission reaction collide with<br />
nuclei<br />
0 This fission reaction then produces more neutrons which<br />
collide with nuclei<br />
0 And so on
NUCLEAR FUSION<br />
0 What it is:<br />
0 Small nuclei combine to produce one larger nucleus<br />
0 Releases more energy than fission reactions<br />
0 The process by which the sun <strong>and</strong> other starts produce energy
NUCLEAR FUSION<br />
0 How it happens: Thermonuclear <strong>Fusion</strong><br />
0 Two nuclei must get very close together<br />
0 The attractive strong force overcomes the electrostatic<br />
repulsions between the positively charged nuclei<br />
0 Occurs at very high temperatures<br />
0 Greater than 10 million degrees Celsius
NUCLEAR FUSION<br />
0 Example<br />
2<br />
H +<br />
3<br />
H !<br />
4<br />
He +<br />
1<br />
n + energy<br />
1 1 2 0
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