Nuclear Fission - Practice Questions & MCQ

Nuclear fission-

The process of splitting of a heavy nucleus into two lighter nuclie of a comparable masses (after bombardment with energetic particle) with liberation of energy.

For example, on bombarding a uranium target, the nucleus broke into two nearly equal fragments and released a great amount of energy -

$$
{ }_0^1 \mathrm{n}+{ }_{92}^{235} \mathrm{U} \rightarrow{ }_{92}^{236} \mathrm{U} \rightarrow{ }_{56}^{144} \mathrm{Ba}+{ }_{36}^{89} \mathrm{Kr}+3{ }_0^1 \mathrm{n}
$$

Fission does not always produce Barium and Krypton. Here is another example:

$$
{ }_0^1 \mathrm{n}+{ }_{92}^{235} \mathrm{U} \rightarrow{ }_{92}^{236} \mathrm{U} \rightarrow{ }_{51}^{133} \mathrm{Sb}+{ }_{41}^{99} \mathrm{Nb}+4_0^1 \mathrm{n}
$$
 

All the fragmented nuclei produced in fission are neutron-rich and unstable. Also, they are radioactive and emit beta articles until they reach a stable end-product. So under favourable conditions, the neutron produced can cause further fission of other nuclie, producing large number of neutrons, Thus a chain of nuclear fissions is established which continues untill the whole Uranium is consumed.