The nuclei produced are most often of comparable but slightly different sizes, typically with a mass ratio of products of about 3:2 for common fissile isotopes.
The fission of heavy elements is an exothermic reaction, and huge amounts of energy are released in the process. Nuclear fission is a process by which the nucleus of an atom is split into two or more smaller nuclei, known as fission products.
nuclear fission: Radioactive decay process in which the nucleus of an atom splits into lighter nuclei.nucleon: One of the subatomic particles of the atomic nucleus, i.e.fissile: Capable of undergoing nuclear fission.When neutrons are released during the fission process, they can initiate a chain reaction of continuous fission which sustains itself.In order to initiate most fission reactions, an atom is bombarded by a neutron to produce an unstable isotope, which undergoes fission.Nuclear fission occurs with heavier elements, where the electromagnetic force pushing the nucleus apart dominates the strong nuclear force holding it together.The fission of heavy elements is an exothermic reaction, and huge amounts of energy are released in the process.
