1. NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY: Fundamental Concepts, Nuclear Fission & Fusion
Dr. N. K. Shukla
Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry
Mahatma Gandhi P.G. College
Gorakhpur

2. AN INTRODUCTION TO FISSION & FUSION

3. Introduction
The reactions in which nuclei of atom interact with another nuclei or elementary particles such as alpha particle, proton, neutron ,deuteron etc. resulting in the formation of a new nucleus and one or more elementary particles are called Nuclear Reactions.
In all the nuclear reaction the total number of neutron and proton are conserved .

4. Various Types of Nuclear Reactions
Projectile Capture Reaction
Particle-particle Reactions
Spallation Reaction
Fission Reaction
Fusion Reaction
The focus of this presentation are the processes of Nuclear fission and Nuclear fusion
Both fission and fusion processes deal with matter and energy

5. Matter and Energy
Earlier studies have taught us that “matter and energy cannot be created nor destroyed”
We now need to understand that Matter and Energy are two forms of the same thing

6. E = mc2 Matter can be changed into Energy
Einstein’s formula above tells us how the change occurs
In the equation above:
E = Energy
m = Mass
c = Speed of Light (Universal Constant)
Energy
Mass
Light
Speed

7. E = mc2 The equation may be read as follows:
Energy (E) is equal to Mass (m) multiplied by the Speed of Light (c) squared
This tells us that a small amount of mass can be converted into a very large amount of energy because the speed of light (c) is an extremely large number

8. Fission
Fission may be defined as the process of splitting an atomic nucleus into fission fragments
The fission fragments are generally in the form of smaller atomic nuclei and neutrons
Large amounts of energy are produced by the fission process

9. Fission
Fissile nuclei are generally heavy atoms with large numbers of nucleons
The nuclei of such heavy atoms are struck by neutrons initiating the fission process
Fission occurs due to electrostatic repulsion created by large numbers of protons within the nuclei of heavy atoms

10. Fission A classic example of a fission reaction is that of U-235:
92U Neutron = 2 Neutrons + 36Kr Ba142 + Energy
In this example, a stray neutron strikes an atom of U It absorbs the neutron and becomes an unstable atom of U-236. It then undergoes further fission.

11. Fission
The fission process is an a natural one as a French researcher found a natural uranium reactor in Gabon, West Africa; it has been estimated to be over 2 billion years old
Fission produces large amounts of heat energy and it is this heat that is captured by nuclear power plants to produce electricity

12. + ENERGY

13. Fusion
Fusion is a nuclear reaction whereby two light atomic nuclei fuse or combine to form a single larger, heavier nucleus
The fusion process generates tremendous amounts of energy
For fusion to occur, a large amount of energy is needed to overcome the electrical charges of the nuclei and fuse them together

14. Fusion
Fusion reactions do not occur naturally on our planet but are the principal type of reaction found in stars
The large masses, densities, and high temperatures of stars provide the initial energies needed to fuel fusion reactions
The sun fuses hydrogen atoms to produce helium, subatomic particles, and vast amounts of energy

16. REFERENCES
Source Book on Atomic Energy- S. Glasstone
Modern Physical Chemistry- R.P. Rastogi, K. Singh, K. Kishore, V.K. Srivastava & M.L. Srivastava
Essentials of Physical Chemistry- Arun Bahl, B.S. Bahl & G.D. Tuli
Principles of Physical Chemistry – Puri, Sharma & Pathania