Nuclear Energy is the energy that is produced through atomic nuclear reactions. Nuclear reactions are distinct from molecular reactions. Most molecular reactions involve electrons either bonding or separating to form new compounds. Nuclear reactions occur in the nucleus of an atom, involving either splitting a nucleus or merging two nuclei together. The two major forms of nuclear power are nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. Nuclear fission happens when an atom is split into two other atoms, releasing a large amount of energy. Nuclear fusion is caused by smashing two atoms together which releases an enormous amount of energy. The energy from these nuclear reactions occurs due to mass being lost in the process. The reaction essentially changes the elemental matter into energy.
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Fusion Process
Nuclear fusion is a process in which two "light" elements (elements that are low in the periodic table) are forced together to create a heavier element. Fusion occurs naturally in stars, including our own sun. Individual hydrogen atoms fuse together to create helium atoms within the sun's core. This process is part of what keeps the sun hot and radiant. Similarly, the most common elements humans use for nuclear fusion are isotopes of hydrogen known as deuterium and tritium. These elements fuse together to create helium and an extra neutron. Currently nuclear fusion is not used as an energy source as it is both difficult perform and difficult to capture all the energy released. Fusion requires certain conditions to occur. The only way to cause fusion is to either create a temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius, which is 6 times hotter than the surface of the sun, or to put it under immense pressure, which is how the sun performs fusion. Creating either condition here on Earth costs a great deal of power. However, the energy released during fusion is more than in any other known reaction; about 1 gram of reactant produces 4.75 x 10^11 Joules of energy, enough to power the entire state of New York for a little over 3 seconds.
Thermonuclear Bomb
The only application we have on earth in use is in thermonuclear weapons such as hydrogen bombs, which can happen since we are not trying to capture the heat or make it cost effective. These bombs were only able to occur with the help of a small nuclear fission bomb included in the bomb casing which is used to help trigger the fusion of hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium to release even more energy than a standard fission reaction. These two isotopes of hydrogen are very abundant in nature in seawater and can be easily synthesized as well, making the fuel used for fusion much more abundant and easily produced than fission. The elements produced by nuclear fusion, such as helium, are also non-harmful and it doe not produce nuclear fallout, making it an environmentally friendly form of energy production.
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Fission is the other common nuclear reaction that we can create. This is the process of separating an element into two smaller elements and creating energy. Some of the most common reactants of nuclear fission are uranium and plutonium. In order to create a nuclear fission reaction, it requires taking one of the heavy elements (such as plutonium or uranium) and bombarding them with neutrons. Neutrons are the optimal particle to use due to the fact that it does not have a charge and will not easily be repelled by the atom. After colliding with enough force, the neutron can break the bond between the subatomic particles in the nucleus of the atom and force them apart creating two lighter elements and a large amount of energy.
Nuclear fission is the current reaction used in all nuclear power plants and is one of the
Nuclear Power Plant Process
most powerful forms of energy on earth. These power plants are relatively clean as they do not produce CO2 or greenhouse gases, however they do produce radioactive waste which takes several years before it is decayed and safe. The fuel used in these reactions is very abundant and the power plants only need to be refueled yearly but can also be used to easily make nuclear weapons from it creating global concern about nuclear proliferation. Despite severe meltdowns that have occurred over the years fission powerplants are considered safe since per kilowatt of energy produced they have less loss of human life than any other major form of energy, including wind and solar. (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2012/06/10/energys-deathprint-a-price-always-paid/#42729359709b) There is still a large concern of the amount of environmental damage caused by nuclear powerplants due to the waste disposed and the major meltdowns that have leaked into their surrounding environments rendering them uninhabitable for many years and killing local wildlife.
Nuclear Fusion
The only application we have on earth in use is in thermonuclear weapons such as hydrogen bombs, which can happen since we are not trying to capture the heat or make it cost effective. These bombs were only able to occur with the help of a small nuclear fission bomb included in the bomb casing which is used to help trigger the fusion of hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium to release even more energy than a standard fission reaction. These two isotopes of hydrogen are very abundant in nature in seawater and can be easily synthesized as well, making the fuel used for fusion much more abundant and easily produced than fission. The elements produced by nuclear fusion, such as helium, are also non-harmful and it doe not produce nuclear fallout, making it an environmentally friendly form of energy production.
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Fission is the other common nuclear reaction that we can create. This is the process of separating an element into two smaller elements and creating energy. Some of the most common reactants of nuclear fission are uranium and plutonium. In order to create a nuclear fission reaction, it requires taking one of the heavy elements (such as plutonium or uranium) and bombarding them with neutrons. Neutrons are the optimal particle to use due to the fact that it does not have a charge and will not easily be repelled by the atom. After colliding with enough force, the neutron can break the bond between the subatomic particles in the nucleus of the atom and force them apart creating two lighter elements and a large amount of energy.
Nuclear fission is the current reaction used in all nuclear power plants and is one of the