NUCLEI : REACTIONS &
REACTOR
FUSSION REACTION (5) For the same mass of the fuel, the energy
released in fusion is much larger than in fission.
Nuclear Fusion (6) Plasma : The temperature of the order of 108 K
required for thermonuclear reactions leads to the
complete ionisation of the atom of light elements.
(1) In nuclear fusion two or more than two lighter
The combination of base nuclei and electron cloud
nuclei combine to form a single heavy nucleus. The
is called plasma. The enormous gravitational field of
mass of single nucleus so formed is less than the
the sun confines the plasma in the interior of the
sum of the masses of parent nuclei. This difference
in mass results in the release of tremendous sun.
amount of energy
Why Cant we Create Fusion Every Where?
(2) For fusion high pressure ( 106 atm) and high
temperature (of the order of 107 K to 108 K) is The main problem to carryout nuclear fusion in the
laboratory is to contain the plasma at a temperature
required and so the reaction is called thermonuclear
of 108K. No solid container can tolerate this much
reaction.
temperature.
If this problem of containing plasma is solved, then
(3) Here are three examples of energy-liberating the large quantity of deuterium present in sea water
fusion reactions, written in terms of the neutral would be able to serve as in-exhaustible source of
atoms. Together the reactions make up the process energy.
called the proton-proton chain.
⬚11 𝐻+11 𝐻 →12 𝐻 + 𝛽 + + 𝜈𝑒 Atom bomb Hydrogen bomb
⬚12 𝐻+11 𝐻 →32 𝐻𝑒 + 𝛾 Based on fission process it Based on fusion process.
involves the fission of U235 Mixture of deutron and tritium
⬚32 𝐻𝑒+32 𝐻𝑒 →42 𝐻𝑒+11 𝐻+11 𝐻 is used in it
41 𝐻1 →2 ⥂ 𝐻𝑒 4 + 2𝛽 + + 2𝛾 + 26.73𝑀𝑒𝑉 In this critical size is important There is no limit to critical size
Explosion is possible at normal High temperature and pressure
temperature and pressure are required
(4) The proton-proton chain takes place in the Less energy is released More energy is released as
interior of the sun and other stars. Each gram of the compared to hydrogen bomb compared to atom bomb so it is
more dangerous than atom
suns mass contains about 4.5 1023 protons. If all of bomb
these protons were fused into helium, the energy
released would be about 130,000 kWh. If the sun
were to continue to radiate at its present rate, it FISSION REACTION
would take about 75 × 109 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 to exhaust its
supply of protons. Nuclear Fission
(1) The process of splitting of a heavy nucleus into (9) The
Binding energy
of compound nucleus must be
𝐴
two lighter nuclei of comparable masses (after
less than that of the fission products.
bombardment with a energetic particle) with
liberation of energy is called nuclear fission.
(10) It may be pointed out that it is not necessary
that in each fission of uranium, the two fragments
(2) The phenomenon of nuclear fission was
56𝐵𝑎 and 36𝐾𝑟 are formed but they may be any
discovered by scientist Ottohann and F. Strassman
stable isotopes of middle weight atoms.
and was explained by N. Bohr and J.A. Wheeler on
the basis of liquid drop model of nucleus.
(11) Same other 𝑈 235 fission reactions are
92𝑈 235 +0 𝑛1 →54 𝑋𝑒 140 +38 𝑆𝑟 94 + 20 𝑛1
→57 𝐿𝑎148 +35 𝐵𝑟 85 + 30 𝑛1
(3) Fission reaction of U235 → Many more
92𝑈 235 + 0𝑛
1
→ 92𝑈 236
(unstable nucleus)
→ 141
+ 36 𝐾𝑟 92 + 30 𝑛1 + 𝑄 (12) The neutrons released during the fission
56 𝐵𝑎
process are called prompt neutrons.
(4) The energy released in U235 fission is about 200
(13) Most of energy released appears in the
MeV or 0.8 MeV per nucleon.
form of kinetic energy of fission fragments.
Ba
Energy
(5) By fission of 92𝑈 235 , on an average 2.5 neutrons
Energy
are liberated. These neutrons are called fast Slow
Neutron
neutrons and their energy is about 2 MeV (for each). 92U
235
92U
236
Energy
These fast neutrons can escape from the reaction so
Energy
as to proceed the chain reaction they are need to
Kr
slow down.
(6) Fission of U235 occurs by slow neutrons only (of
energy about 1eV) or even by thermal neutrons (of NUCLEAR REACTOR
energy about 0.025 eV).
A nuclear reactor is a device in which nuclear
fission can be carried out through a sustained and a
(7) 50 kg of U235 on fission will release 4 × 1015 J of controlled chain reaction. It is also called an atomic
energy. This is equivalence to 20,000 tones of TNT pile. It is thus a source of controlled energy which
is utilised for many useful purposes.
explosion. The nuclear bomb dropped at Hiroshima
had this much explosion power.
Cadmium
rods Core
Coolant
(8) The mass of the compound nucleus must be Coolant out
Turbine
greater than the sum of masses of fission products. Concrete To electric
wall generator
Condenser
Moderator Water
(iv) They are used to produce neutron beam of high
intensity which is used in the treatment of cancer
and nuclear research.
GKB :
In nuclear fission, three neutrons are produced
along with the release of large energy. Under
(1) Fissionable material (Fuel) : The fissionable favourable conditions, these neutrons can
material used in the reactor is called the fuel of the cause further fission of other nuclei, producing
reactor. Uranium isotope (U235) Thorium isotope large number of neutrons. Thus a chain of
(Th232) and Plutonium isotopes (Pu239, Pu240 and nuclear fissions is established which continues
until the whole of the uranium is consumed.
Pu241) are the most commonly used fuels in the
reactor. In the chain reaction, the number of nuclei
(2) Moderator : Moderator is used to slow down the undergoing fission increases very fast. So, the
fast moving neutrons. Most commonly used energy produced takes a tremendous magnitude
moderators are graphite and heavy water (D2O). very soon.
(3) Control Material : Control material is used to Difficulties in Chain Reaction
control the chain reaction and to maintain a stable In chain reaction following difficulties are
rate of reaction. This material controls the number observed
of neutrons available for the fission. For example,
(1) Absorption of neutrons by U238 : the major
cadmium rods are inserted into the core of the
part in natural uranium is the isotope U238 (99.3%),
reactor because they can absorb the neutrons. The
neutrons available for fission are controlled by the isotope 𝑈 235 is very little (0.7%). It is found that
moving the cadmium rods in or out of the core of 𝑈 238 is fissionable with fast neutrons, whereas
the reactor. 𝑈 235 is fissionable with slow neutrons. Due to the
(4) Coolant : Coolant is a cooling material which large percentage of 𝑈 238 , there is more possibility of
removes the heat generated due to fission in the collision of neutrons with 𝑈 238 . It is found that the
reactor. Commonly used coolants are water, CO2 neutrons get slowed on coliding with 𝑈 238 , as a
nitrogen etc. result of it further fission of U238 is not possible
(5) Protective shield : A protective shield in the form (Because they are slow and they are absorbed by
a concrete thick wall surrounds the core of the U238). This stops the chain reaction.
reactor to save the persons working around the
Removal : (i) To sustain chain reaction 92𝑈 235 is
reactor from the hazardous radiations.
separated from the ordinary uranium. Uranium so
(6) Uses of nuclear reactor
obtained (92𝑈 235 ) is known as enriched uranium,
(i) In electric power generation.
which is fissionable with the fast and slow neutrons
(ii) To produce radioactive isotopes for their use in
and hence chain reaction can be sustained.
medical science, agriculture and industry.
(ii) If neutrons are slowed down by any method
(iii) In manufacturing of 𝑃𝑢239 which is used in atom
to an energy of about 0.3 eV, then the probability of
bomb.
their absorption by 𝑈 238 becomes very low, while It's rate is slow Fast rate
the probability of their fissioning 𝑈 235 becomes Reproduction factor k = 1 Reproduction factor k > 1
high. This job is done by moderators. Which reduce Energy liberated in this type of A large amount of energy is
reaction is always less than liberated in this type of
the speed of neutron rapidly graphite and heavy explosive energy reaction
water are the example of moderators. Chain reaction is the principle Uncontrolled chain reaction is
of nuclear reactors the principle of atom bomb.
(2) Critical size : The neutrons emitted during
fission are very fast and they travel a large distance
before being slowed down. If the size of the
fissionable material is small, the neutrons emitted
will escape the fissionable material before they are
slowed down. Hence chain reaction cannot be
sustained.
Removal : The size of the fissionable material
should be large than a critical size.
The chain reaction once started will remain
steady, accelerate or retard depending upon, a
factor called neutron reproduction factor (k). It is
defined as follows.
Rate of production of neutrons
𝑘= Rate of loss of neutrons
If k = 1, the chain reaction will be steady. The
size of the fissionable material used is said to be the
critical size and it's mass, the critical mass.
If k > 1, the chain reaction accelerates, resulting
in an explosion. The size of the material in this case
is super critical. (Atom bomb)
If k < 1, the chain reaction gradually comes to a
halt. The size of the material used us said to be sub-
critical.
Controlled chain reaction Uncontrolled chain reaction
Controlled by artificial method No control over this type of
nuclear reaction
All neurons are absorbed More than one neutron takes
except one part into reaction
