Atoms contain large amounts of energy with the ability to be released in two ways. One of these ways is to join Nuclei together in a process called nuclear fusion and another way is to split atomic nuclei in a process called nuclear fission. Though there are many arguments in favour and against both, nuclear fission currently holds the upper hand as a nuclear fusion reactor is yet to be formed. Nuclear fission occurs when a stable isotope is hit by a neutron causing the isotope to absorb it, making it unstable and splitting it apart releasing huge amounts of energy. Nuclear fission is currently used for nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors, examples of isotopes that can undergo the process are Uranium235 and Plutonium 239. Advantages of Nuclear fission are that it doesn’t release carbon emissions or greenhouse gasses; it’s cheap to run once stations are built and the used nuclear fuel can contain Uranium which can be separated from the waste to be removed. However, there are some disadvantages though, such as, it produces long-lasting radioactive waste (creating long term effects for future generations), is expensive to build new power stations and there is also a risk of uncontrolled chain reactions throughout.
The Essay on Radioactive Decay, Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion
... be many products formed from the reaction. Nuclear fission reaction Chain reaction Hydrogen and helium nuclei ... is equivalent to a helium nucleus being released. Alpha decay occurs because there are too ... helium nuclei with tritium which is an isotope of hydrogen. The second involves helium-4 ... processes which collectively are called nucleogenesis. In the sun hydrogen is converted into helium by nuclear ...
Overall, taking into account its ability to cause a reduction in greenhouse gases it could be a very useful process but its unfortunate big downfall remains its radioactive waste. This would mean removing the threat of greenhouse issues but creating a greater problem of radioactive waste which would defeat the aim of its use, thus it is, as a whole, an unhelpful and useless process of energy production. Nuclear fusion occurs all the time but in outer space at very high temperatures and pressures, highlighting its current inability to be recreated on earth. The fusion happens when small nuclei join together to form larger nuclei and energy is then released, i.e. Hydrogen nuclei join together to form Helium nuclei.
Advantages of nuclear fusion consist of the abundant fuels used in the process (Deuterium can be extracted from water and tritium is made from common lithium), small amounts of fuel are needed to create sufficient industrial amounts and it’s a clean process, creating no greenhouse or polluting gases on the side. In additions to these positive aspects of the process, it removes temptation of human nature with its products being suitably not able to make nuclear weapons. Though Nuclear Fusion is very human friendly, its downfall is its dear expense to develop and the many years of development needed to form fusion reactors. In conclusion, the clear front-runner of the two energy producing methods, in my scientific opinion, is nuclear fusion because of its appealing clean format and the safety ensured by the method as there are no chain reactions to monitor and less radioactive waste is produced. My biggest disappointment with Nuclear Fission being its suitability to be used for nuclear weapons, of which i hold much reproach towards.
