Energy

Nuclear

Nuclear knowledge

Nuclear fission

Fission is the breaking of the nucleus into two fragments through the action of neutrons on very heavy nuclei, i.e. uranium 235. The main effects of this phenomenon are: the release of a large quantity of energy and the simultaneous emission of 2-3 neutrons that activate a reaction, provoking new fissions and starting a chain reaction. During nucleus fission energy is released and, if kept carefully under control, it can be exploited to produce electricity. Some of these heavy elements, like uranium 235 (92 protons and 143 neutrons), are located in deposits and in order to obtain them it is necessary to extract them from the soil. Others, like plutonium 239 or uranium 233, are artificially produced by men.