Nuclear fission is

JAMB Chemistry 2023 68 views

Nuclear fission is

  1. The process of combining two light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus.
  2. The process of splitting a heavy atomic nucleus into two or more lighter nuclei. ✓
  3. The process of converting a solid into a gas directly.
  4. The process of changing a liquid into a solid.

Explanation

Nuclear fission occurs when a heavy nucleus like uranium-235 breaks apart into smaller nuclei. A neutron hits the nucleus, causing it to split and release tremendous energy.

Nuclear power plants and atomic bombs use fission reactions. The splitting nucleus releases more neutrons that can split other nuclei, creating a chain reaction.

Fission releases millions of times more energy than chemical reactions. This huge energy release comes from converting small amounts of mass into energy according to Einstein’s famous equation.

pastquestions.ng