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Chemistry  /  Chem 2535  ·  Atom · ~20 seconds

Twin: Nuclear Fission

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Nuclear fission splits a large nucleus into smaller, more stable fragments, releasing energy since those fragments sit higher on the binding-energy curve.

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A uranium-235 nucleus absorbing a neutron splits into fragments like barium and krypton, plus neutrons and energy.

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Fission is favorable only for nuclei heavier than the curve's peak near mass 56 — logic reverses for light nuclei, hence its twin.