- #1
GTeclips
- 23
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Hello. I have some questions regarding Uranium 235 and its instability.
Whenever you hear about nuclear reactions, you almost always hear Uranium 235 linked with it as being quite suitable for splitting because it is unstable (At least I do).
I have been vaguely exploring nuclear transmutations and what you might call "Nuclear Alchemy" and forming new elements via nuclear fusion and fission. I know the amount of protons in an atom determines what element it is and a certain isotopic ratio of protons to neutrons determines if it is unstable or not, and I always hear how Uranium 235 is the perfect element for nuclear fission because it is unstable and breaks easily.
I know nuclear fusion and fission are quite hard to perform on normal larger atoms due to the amount of energy required. For example, all the energy in the sun is enough to only make iron as the largest element from nuclear fusion and it requires much larger events (Supernovas) to transmute larger elements.
To my questions. Why are unstable elements such as Uranium 235 so easy to perform nuclear fission on and make two new random elements? Why can't other elements such as Lead, Iron and Copper be made unstable and thusly used in nuclear fission to make new elements? Are there any cheats or catalysts that would allow nuclear fusion to be accomplished without all the energy of the sun required to simply transmute Hydrogen into Helium?
Thank you.
(Edit: Additional question... What is the difference between Uranium and Uranium 235 specifically?)
Whenever you hear about nuclear reactions, you almost always hear Uranium 235 linked with it as being quite suitable for splitting because it is unstable (At least I do).
I have been vaguely exploring nuclear transmutations and what you might call "Nuclear Alchemy" and forming new elements via nuclear fusion and fission. I know the amount of protons in an atom determines what element it is and a certain isotopic ratio of protons to neutrons determines if it is unstable or not, and I always hear how Uranium 235 is the perfect element for nuclear fission because it is unstable and breaks easily.
I know nuclear fusion and fission are quite hard to perform on normal larger atoms due to the amount of energy required. For example, all the energy in the sun is enough to only make iron as the largest element from nuclear fusion and it requires much larger events (Supernovas) to transmute larger elements.
To my questions. Why are unstable elements such as Uranium 235 so easy to perform nuclear fission on and make two new random elements? Why can't other elements such as Lead, Iron and Copper be made unstable and thusly used in nuclear fission to make new elements? Are there any cheats or catalysts that would allow nuclear fusion to be accomplished without all the energy of the sun required to simply transmute Hydrogen into Helium?
Thank you.
(Edit: Additional question... What is the difference between Uranium and Uranium 235 specifically?)
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