Products and energy from Iron 56 fission

AI Thread Summary
Iron-56 is not a favorable candidate for fission, as it requires more energy to split than can be gained from the process. Theoretical fission of iron-56 could yield products such as magnesium-26 and silicon-30, with an estimated energy release of about 19.93 MeV. The energy required for fission depends on the method used and can vary based on the particles involved in the reaction. While fission can produce both radioactive and stable isotopes, the overall energy yield from splitting iron-56 is likely negative. Understanding the specific fission methods and their outcomes is crucial for further exploration of this topic.
jerich1000
Messages
55
Reaction score
0
I know the iron-56 nucleus is not a good fission candidate, and that more energy is required to split iron-56 than what is required to split it.

But theoretically, if one were to split iron-56, what would be the products and what would be the energy obtained per unit mass?

Would there be harmful (e.g., beta emission or other) radiation? I realize that a runaway chain reaction is not possible.

Thanks
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Fission can lead to many different results. Some of them would be radioactive, some of them would not.
and what would be the energy obtained per unit mass?
The energy required? Depends on the fission method and products.
 
I'm not asking for the "net" energy obtained from splitting iron-56, as it probably is negative. I'm asking what the absolute energy release would be after splitting iron-56.

Perhaps I should ask, "what energy is required to split iron-56?", given that it's the same or more than what is obtained from splitting it.

"MFB" asked about the fission method. I don't know what the available fission methods are. What about least complex or most likely method?

Thanks
 
I'm asking what the absolute energy release would be after splitting iron-56.
The released energy is the incoming energy (if you shoot with protons, neutrons, photons, electrons or whatever) minus the energy loss from fission.
I have no idea what the most likely fission products are, and it will depend on the beam you use to induce fission, too.

56Fe has 26 protons and 30 neutrons and a mass of 55.9349375(7) u.
Possible daughter nuclei include 26Mg (12 protons, 14 neutrons, mass 25.982592929(30) u) and 30Si (14 protons, 16 neutrons, mass 29.97377017(3) u).
55.9349375-25.982592929-29.97377017 gives 19.93 MeV to split iron into those nuclei. This is an upper limit, other fission reactions might need less energy.
 
Hello, I'm currently trying to compare theoretical results with an MCNP simulation. I'm using two discrete sets of data, intensity (probability) and linear attenuation coefficient, both functions of energy, to produce an attenuated energy spectrum after x-rays have passed through a thin layer of lead. I've been running through the calculations and I'm getting a higher average attenuated energy (~74 keV) than initial average energy (~33 keV). My guess is I'm doing something wrong somewhere...
Back
Top