Nuclear fission

Key words
1 Reaction with uranium N
chain reaction
fission

N N

Nuclear fission
nuclear fission, a heavy atomic
● In
nucleus divides to make two smaller
N
ones. Some of the mass of the nuclei is
converted into energy during the 1 235 148 85
process. 0n
+ 92 U 57 La
+ 35 Br
+ 3 01 n
one neutron uranium-235 lanthanum-148 bromine-85 three neutrons
1 Reaction with uranium
● In a nuclear reaction with uranium and
slow-moving neutrons, the nucleus of 2 Chain reaction
the uranium-235 atom undergoes N
fission and forms two smaller nuclei
(lanthanum-148 and bromine-85) plus
three neutrons. A small amount of
mass is converted to energy. N

2 Chain reaction
●A nuclear chain reaction is a series of
self-sustaining reactions in which the
particles released by one nucleus N
trigger the fission of at least as many
other nuclei. N
● Under normal circumstances, only a
very small proportion of fission N
neutrons act in this way. However, if
there is a sufficient amount of a
radioactive isotope, a chain reaction
can start.
N N N
● In an atomic bomb, an increasing
uncontrolled chain reaction occurs in
a very short time when two pieces of
uranium-235 (or plutonium-239) are
rapidly brought together. N
● In a nuclear power station, the chain
reaction is steady and controlled, so
only a limited number of fission N
neutrons bring about further fission
N
reactions.
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1 neutron 3 neutrons 9 neutrons