ALL ABOUT NUCLEAR FISSION
DISCOVERY OF NUCLEAR FISSION:
In 1934 Fermi and Co-workers while investigating
nuclear rxns induced by neutrons from the U- 238 when Bombarded with slow
neutrons gives rise to at least four different beta activities distinguished by their
half-lives of 30 seconds 30 minutes and 40 minutes respectively.
One of these beta activities was thought to be due to
92-U- 239 isotope of Uranium which is produced by the (n,) rxn with the common
isotope 92-U-238, the r*n can be represented as,
92-U-238 + 0 to the base n to the power 1 → [ 92-U-239]→
92-U-239+
The isotope 92-U-238 has a neutron to Proton ratio greater than that
of 92-U-239. Therefore it might emit a beta particle. It should produce 93-X- 239
with atomic number 93 as a result of beta decay represented by the rxn.
92-U-238→ 93-X-239 + -1 to the base e to the power 0.
The new element 92-X-239 would also be a beta-emitter and would
also decay produce an element of atomic number 94. Therefore several beta
activities are observed from a series of unstable elements with atomic numbers
93,94,95,96. These elements are called transuranium elements.
O.hahn and F.strassemann discovered in 1939 that alkaline earth
metals are produced when Uranium is irradiated with neutrons. Lise Meitner and
O.R.Frisch suggested that by absorption of a neutron, the Uranium nucleus
becomes sufficiently excited to split into two fragments of approximately equal
mass.
Curie and Savitch analyzed the fission fragment by their chemical
properties. Hence one is barium of atomic number 56. Therefore the other one is
the krypton gas of atomic number 36.
NUCLEAR FISSION:
DISCOVERY OF NUCLEAR FISSION:
In 1934 Fermi and Co-workers while investigating
nuclear rxns induced by neutrons from the U- 238 when Bombarded with slow
neutrons gives rise to at least four different beta activities distinguished by their
half-lives of 30 seconds 30 minutes and 40 minutes respectively.
One of these beta activities was thought to be due to
92-U- 239 isotope of Uranium which is produced by the (n,) rxn with the common
isotope 92-U-238, the r*n can be represented as,
92-U-238 + 0 to the base n to the power 1 → [ 92-U-239]→
92-U-239+
The isotope 92-U-238 has a neutron to Proton ratio greater than that
of 92-U-239. Therefore it might emit a beta particle. It should produce 93-X- 239
with atomic number 93 as a result of beta decay represented by the rxn.
92-U-238→ 93-X-239 + -1 to the base e to the power 0.
The new element 92-X-239 would also be a beta-emitter and would
also decay produce an element of atomic number 94. Therefore several beta
activities are observed from a series of unstable elements with atomic numbers
93,94,95,96. These elements are called transuranium elements.
O.hahn and F.strassemann discovered in 1939 that alkaline earth
metals are produced when Uranium is irradiated with neutrons. Lise Meitner and
O.R.Frisch suggested that by absorption of a neutron, the Uranium nucleus
becomes sufficiently excited to split into two fragments of approximately equal
mass.
Curie and Savitch analyzed the fission fragment by their chemical
properties. Hence one is barium of atomic number 56. Therefore the other one is
the krypton gas of atomic number 36.
NUCLEAR FISSION:
