Question

Explain nuclear reactions, nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

Answer 1

Nuclear fission and fusion involve the disintegration and combination of the elemental nucleus. In the case of nuclear fission, an atom divides into two or smaller or lighter atoms. Nuclear fusion occurs when two or more atoms join or fuse together to form a large or heavy atom.

Answer 2

Nuclear reaction is a reaction in which nucleus of the atom undergoes a change.

Nuclear fusion is a process which involves the conversion of two small nuclei to form a heavy nuclei along with release of energy.

Example :
`4_1^1\textrm{H}\rightarrow _2^4\textrm{He}+2_(+1)^0\textrm{e}+\text{energy}`

Nuclear fission is a process which involves the conversion of a heavier nuclei into two or more small and stable nuclei along with the release of energy.

Example:
`_(92)^(235)\textrm{U}+_0^1\textrm{n}\rightarrow _(56)^(143)Ba+_(36)^(90)Kr+3_0^1\textrm{n}`