Does Uranium-235 Always Fission in to Kr-89 and Ba-144?

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SUMMARY

Uranium-235 does not always fission into Krypton-89 and Barium-144; it is one of many possible outcomes. The fission products must total an atomic number of 92, with mass numbers summing to either 234 or 233, depending on the number of free neutrons produced. Common fission products from thermal fission include Bromine and Lanthanum, or Zirconium-100 and Tellurium-134. Fast fissions yield a more symmetric distribution of products, often resulting in higher proportions of transition elements like Palladium.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of nuclear fission processes
  • Familiarity with atomic numbers and mass numbers
  • Knowledge of thermal vs. fast fission
  • Basic grasp of nuclide yield charts
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the fission product distributions of Uranium-235 using NNDC charts
  • Study the differences between thermal and fast fission processes
  • Explore the significance of neutron production in fission reactions
  • Investigate the role of transition elements in nuclear fission
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nwfusor
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If it does, why is that so?
 
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No, that is one of numerous possibilities.

The atomic numbers of the fission products must = 92, and the masses would sum to 234 or 233, depending on whether fission produces 2 or 3 free neutrons. One could find Br and La, or Zr-100 and Te-134, which is one of the most probable results for thermal fission. In fast fissions, the fission is more symmetric and one will find higher proportions of transition elements centered around Pd.

Plots from NNDC at BNL - showing nuclide yields (fractions) from thermal fisson of U-235.

http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/chart/temp/z52n81zl1c235ufy249.png
http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/chart/reCenter.jsp?z=52&n=82
http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/chart/temp/z40n58zl1c235ufy5304.png
http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/chart/reCenter.jsp?z=40&n=60
 
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