Question

What is nuclear fission?

Short answer

The fission reaction is$\begin{array}{l}{}_{92}{}^{233}\text{U}{+}_0^1\text{n}{\to }_{54}^{137}\text{Xe}{+}_{38}^{94}\text{Sr}+3_0^1\text{n}\end{array}$.

Step-by-step solution

Introduction

Nuclear fission occurs whenever the nucleus of an atom breaks into lighter nuclei as a result of a nuclear reaction. Such decay can be replicated in a lab by achieving the requisite conditions, or it can be natural spontaneous separation by radioactive decay . The aggregate mass of the resultant fragments is usually smaller than the original.

Explanation

The breaking of Uranium-$233$is a type of nuclear fission. The equation for the reaction is as follows:

$\begin{array}{l}{}_{92}{}^{233}\text{U}{+}_0^1\text{n}{\to }_{54}^{137}\text{Xe}{+}_{38}^{94}\text{Sr}+3_0^1\text{n}\end{array}$