Calculate the quantity of energy produced per gram of U-235 (atomic mass = 235.043922 amu) for the neutron-induced fission of U-235 to form Xe-144 (atomic mass = 143.9385 amu) and Sr-90 (atomic mass = 89.907738 amu) (discussed in Problem 57).

Key Concepts

Nuclear Fission

Nuclear fission is a process in which a heavy nucleus, such as U-235, splits into two smaller nuclei, along with the release of energy and neutrons. This reaction can be initiated by the absorption of a neutron, leading to a chain reaction that can produce significant amounts of energy, which is the principle behind nuclear reactors and atomic bombs.

Mass-Energy Equivalence

Mass-energy equivalence, expressed by Einstein's equation E=mc², states that mass can be converted into energy and vice versa. In nuclear reactions, the mass of the products is often less than the mass of the reactants, and this 'missing' mass is converted into energy, which can be calculated to determine the energy released per reaction.

Atomic Mass Unit (amu)

The atomic mass unit (amu) is a standard unit of mass used to express atomic and molecular weights. It is defined as one twelfth of the mass of a carbon-12 atom. Understanding atomic masses is crucial for calculating the energy produced in nuclear reactions, as the differences in mass before and after the reaction directly relate to the energy released.