Define nuclear fission giving one example.

1.	Define nuclear fission giving one example.
Answer» Solution :It was discovered by Hahn in 1983 that when a heavy nucleus is bombarded with neutrons, it splits up into two PARTS of nearly same size and there is a release of large AMOUNT same size and there is a release of large amount of energy. This process is called nuclear fission. When a slow neutron collides with `._(92)^(235)U`, it is CAPTURED by the nucleus. The nucleus becomes unstable and breaks up into two roughly equal parts. `._(92)^(235)U + ._(0)^(1)n rarr ._(56)^(139)Ba + ._(36)^(94)Kr + 3._(0)^(1)n + "Energy"` ...(i) Mass of products formed is less than the initial mass, the lost mass `(Delta m)` is CONVERTED into energy according to Einstein.s mass energy relations `E = rarr Delta m c^(2)` Energy emitted in above reaction [equation (i)] is nearly 200 MeV.

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