Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear fission is a process in which a heavy nucleus, such as uranium-235, splits into two smaller nuclei, along with the release of energy and neutrons. This reaction is typically initiated by the absorption of a neutron. The energy released during fission is due to the conversion of mass into energy, as described by Einstein's equation E=mc².
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Mass Defect and Binding Energy
The mass defect refers to the difference between the mass of the original nucleus and the total mass of the resulting fragments after fission. This mass difference is converted into energy, which can be calculated using the binding energy formula. The greater the mass defect, the more energy is released during the fission process, making it a crucial factor in determining the energy output.
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Energy Calculations in kJ/mol
Energy released in nuclear reactions is often expressed in kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol) to provide a standardized measure of energy per amount of substance. To calculate this, one must consider the total energy released during the fission process and convert it from joules to kilojoules, while also accounting for the number of moles of the reactants involved in the reaction.
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