Difference Between Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion

Ans: During the process of nuclear fission a large amount of energy is released during the reaction. However, this liberation or release of energy is 3-4 times lesser than the energy released during the nuclear fusion process. Nuclear fission can be controlled through different scientific processes while it is impossible to control nuclear fusion. 

Ans: Yes nuclear fusion can take place in nature. We can see nuclear fusion taking place in stars like the sun but it takes place only in high temperatures and pressure 

Ans: Nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which one larger atom splits into two or more atoms and forms smaller atoms. When a large atom goes under nuclear fission, energy is released. The amount of mass is so much that we can measure the mass of decreased energy, this means that some of the mass is converted into energy. The fission process often produces gamma photons and releases a large amount of energy by energetic standards of radioactive decay. 

Ans: Nuclear fusion is a reaction that occurs when two atoms combine to form one or more different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles like protons and neutrons.

• A large amount of energy is released during nuclear fusion and the amount of energy released is more than the energy released during the process of the nuclear fission reaction.
• Fusion occurs in the sun where the atoms of deuterium and tritium combine in a huge pressure atmosphere with extremely high temperatures to produce an output in the form of a neutron and an isotope of Helium.

Ans: Uranium fuel is the significant fuel used in nuclear power plants primarily during nuclear fission. Hydrogen isotopes or deuterium and tritium are primary fuels that are used in experimental fusion power plants.

Ans. (A) The four different types of nuclear fusion are as follows:

• Thermonuclear fusion.
• Beam–beam or beam–target fusion.
• Muon-catalyzed fusion.
• Artifical fusion

(B) Nuclear fission is used to generate electricity in nuclear reactors. The heat produced during fission is passed to the fluid, which helps in running turbines through steam turbines.

Ans. The most uncontrolled radioactive leak into the environment in history occurred at Chernobyl. After the building containing the reactor was destroyed, there was an explosion and fire that resulted in the release of radiation into the atmosphere.

• The day before the accident, before the routine shutdown, the team tried to determine how long the reactor could be cooled in the case of a power outage.
• The operators turned off the relevant automatic shutdown devices prior to initiating the test.
• The peculiar design of the control rods, which are used to govern fission inside a reactor, resulted in a notable power surge when they were inserted into the reactor.
• The pressure break caused a steam explosion, which spewed fission products into the atmosphere.

Ans. The disadvantages of nuclear fusion are as follows:

• First and foremost, the generation of large amounts of radio waste. 
• Proliferation of nuclear weapons.
• Consumption of large amounts of power, thus generating parasitic power drain.
• The deuterium-tritium reaction still needs to be fully replenished.

Ans. Light elements such as protium, deuterium, and tritium, which are the isotopes of hydrogen, have all been explored as fuels for fusion power. Helium-3, an isotope of helium that is so rare on Earth that it must be mined extraterrestrially or created by other nuclear events, is necessary for the deuterium and helium-3 reaction.

Ans. The chemical equation of splitting of Uranium – 233 in nuclear fission reaction is as follows: ²³³₉₂U + ¹₀n → ¹³⁷₅₄Xe + ⁹⁴₃₈Sr + 3¹₀n

Ans. The reactions involved in the nuclear fusion in the sun are as follows:

• ¹₁H + ¹₁H → ²₁H + e^– + v + 0.42 MeV 
• e^– + e⁺ → γ + γ + 1.02 MeV 
• ²₁H + ¹₁H → ³₂He + γ + 5.49 MeV 
• ³₂He + ³₂He → ⁴₂He + ¹₁H + ¹₁H + 12.86 MeV