Nuclear Reactions: Fission & Fusion Explained

[Eric McClean]

i am new to nuclear science so acn anyone tell me , How does nuclear reaction start ? what the chemistry behind it .
any inputs will be welcome

 

[Astronuc]

Nuclear reactions do not involve 'chemistry' in the sense the chemical reactions involve atomic electrons and the bonds that form between atoms.

Fission usually involves the use of neutrons which themselves are produced from nuclear reactions.

Fusion involves nuclear collisions at high temperature usually several keV (1 keV ~ 11605000 K).

 

[raining Pete]

Hi there! Welcome to the world of nuclear science. Nuclear reactions start when the nucleus of an atom undergoes a change, either by splitting apart (nuclear fission) or combining with other nuclei (nuclear fusion). This change is triggered by a variety of factors, such as high energy collisions or radioactive decay.

The chemistry behind nuclear reactions is based on the principles of nuclear physics. Atoms are made up of a nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons. In a nuclear reaction, the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus changes, resulting in a different element with different chemical properties.

Nuclear reactions can also release a large amount of energy, which can be harnessed for various purposes such as electricity generation or nuclear weapons. The chemistry behind this energy release is related to the binding energy of the nucleus and the strong nuclear force that holds the nucleus together.

I hope this helps to answer your question. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask. Happy learning!