Question

Below are steps of nuclear fission involving uranium-235 in no particular order. What is the correct order of steps for this process? I. Uranium-236 changes to less massive elements, releasing energy and three additional neutrons. II. Uranium-235 becomes an unstable uranium-236 atom. III. A neutron hits a uranium-235 atom.

Answer 1

The nuclear fission of U-235 is a radioactive decay process in which the heavy nucleus of Uranium-235 that absorbs a neutron first and then converts into a an unstable nucleus of Uranium-236 which eventually splits into lighter elements and additional neutrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

Nuclear Fission of Uranium - 235

One of the fissile isotopes that undergo a crucial nuclear fission reactions is U-235 and forms a chain reaction. A nuclear fission is defined as a radioactive decay process in which a heavier nucleus splits into two or more lighter elements by absorbing a neutron and releasing its multiples along with an enormous form of energy.

Taking up the example of Uranium-235, when it's bombarded with small neutrons, the nucleus of U-235 absorbs one of them and turns to heavier U-236 which remains unstable for an infinitesimal time. This U-236, undergoes a fission phase where it releases three neutrons and produce Kr-92 and Ba-141 along with enormous amount of energy and gamma rays.