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PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

is defined as a
physical process in
which there is a
change in identity
of an atomic
nucleus.

CHAPTER 27: Nuclear Reaction

Four types of
nuclear reaction:

PHYSICS
CHAPTER 27
Learning Outcome:
27.1

Nuclear reaction

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

State the conservation of charge (Z) and nucleon

number (A) in a nuclear reaction.
Write and complete the equation of nuclear reaction.
Calculate the energy liberated in the process of nuclear
reaction

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

27.1 Nuclear reaction

27.1.1 Conservation of nuclear reaction

Any nuclear reaction must obeyed conservation laws stated

below:
Conservation of relativistic energy (kinetic and rest
energies):

relativistic energy
before reaction

Conservation of linear momentum:

relativistic energy
after reaction

linear momentum
before reaction

Conservation of angular momentum:

linear momentum
after reaction

angular momentum

before reaction

angular momentum
after reaction
3

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Conservation of charge (atomic number Z):

atomic number Z
before reaction

Conservation of mass number A:

mass number A
before reaction

atomic number Z
after reaction

mass number A
after reaction

However, it is very hard to obey all the conservation laws.

Note:
The most important of conservation laws should be obeyed
by every nuclear reaction are conservation of charge (atomic
number )and of mass number.

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CHAPTER 27

27.1.2 Reaction energy (Q)

Energy is released (liberated) in a nuclear reaction in the form of

kinetic energy of the particle emitted, the kinetic energy of
the daughter nucleus and the energy of the gamma-ray
photon that may accompany the reaction.

The energy is called the reaction OR disintegration energy (Q).

It may be calculated by finding the mass defect of the reaction
where

Mass defect

mass of nucleus
before reaction

m mi mf

mass of nucleus
productsafter reaction
(14.1)

The reaction energy Q is the energy equivalent to the mass

defect m of the reaction, thus

Q m c

(14.2)
Speed of light in vacuum
5

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Note:

If the value of m OR Q is positive, the reaction is called

exothermic (exoergic) in which the energy released in the
form the kinetic energy of the product.
If the value of m OR Q is negative, the reaction is called
endothermic (endoergic) in which the energy need to be
absorbed for the reaction occurred.

27.1.3 Radioactivity decay

is defined as the phenomenon in which an unstable nucleus

disintegrates to acquire a more stable nucleus without
absorb an external energy.
The disintegration is spontaneous and most commonly
involves the emission of an alpha particle ( OR 4 He ), a beta
0
0 2
particle ( OR 1 e ) and gamma-ray ( OR ). It also
0
release an energy Q known as disintegration energy.
6

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Example 27.1 :
Polonium nucleus decays by alpha emission to lead nucleus can be
represented by the equation below:
212
208
4
Po

Pb

84
82
2 He Q

Calculate

a. the energy Q released in MeV.

b. the wavelength of the gamma-ray produced.
(Given mass of Po-212, mPo=211.98885 u ; mass of Pb-208,
mPb=207.97664 u and mass of particle , m=4.0026 u)
212
208
4
Solution :
decay
Po

Pb

84
82
2 He Q
before
decay

Z Z
i

after
decay

and

A A
i

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Solution :
a. The mass defect (difference) of the reaction is given by

m mi mf
mPo mPb m
211.98885 207.97664 4.0026

The energy released in the decay reaction can be calculated by

using two method:
27
2
1
u

1
.
66

10
kg
1st method:
Q m c

in kg

m 9.61 10 3 1.66 10 27
1.5953 10 29 kg
Q 1.5953 10 29 3.00 10 8

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Solution :
a. Thus the energy released in MeV is

1.436 10 12
Q
1.60 10 13

2nd method:

Q m c 2

1 MeV 1.60 1013 J

1 u 931.5 MeV/ c 2

in u

931.5 MeV/ c 2 2
c
m
1u

2
931
.
5
MeV/
c
3
c
9.61 10 u

1
u

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Solution :
b. The reaction energy Q is released in form of gamma-ray where
its wavelength can be calculated by applying the Plancks
hc
quantum theory:

hc

6.63 10 3.00 10

34

1.436 10

12

Note:
The radioactive decay only occurred when the value of m
OR Q is positive.
10

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Example 27.2 :

A nickel-66 nucleus 66
decays to a new nucleus by emitting a
28 Ni
beta particle.
a. Write an equation to represent the nuclear reaction.
b. If the new nucleus found in part (a) has the atomic mass of
65.9284 u and the atomic mass for nickel-66 is 65.9291 u, what
is the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electron?
(Given mass of electron, me =5.49 104 u and c =3.00 108 m s1)
Solution :
a. Nuclear reaction equation must obey the conservation of atomic
number and the conservation of mass number.
66
66
0
Ni

28
29
1 e Q

decay

11

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Solution :
b. Given mNi 65.9291 u; mX 65.9284 u
The mass defect (difference) of the reaction is given by

m mi mf
mNi mX me

65.9291 65.9284 5.49 10 4

If the reaction energy is completely convert into the kinetic

energy of emitted electron, therefore the maximum kinetic energy
of the emitted electron is given by

K max Q
m c 2

1.51 10

1.66 10 3.00 10
27

8 2

12

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Example 27.3 :
Table 14.1 shows the value of masses for several nuclides.
Nuclide

Mass (u)

4
2 He
23
11 Na
27
13 Al

4.0026
22.9898

26.9815
Table 14.1
Discuss whether it is possible for 27
to emit spontaneously an
13 Al
alpha particle.
Solution :
If 13 Al emits an alpha particle, the decay would be represented
by
27
4
23
27

13 Al

26.9815 u

11 Na

22.9898 u

2 He

4.0026 u

26.9924 u
Since the total mass after the reaction is greater than that before
13
the reaction, therefore the reaction does not occur.

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

27.1.4 Bombardment with energetic particles

is defined as an induced nuclear reaction that does not

occur spontaneously; it is caused by a collision between a
nucleus and an energetic particles such as proton, neutron,
alpha particle or photon.

Consider a bombardment reaction in which a target nucleus X is

bombarded by a particle x, resulting in a daughter nucleus Y,
an emitted particle y and reaction energy Q:

X x y Y Q

sometimes this reaction is written in the more compact form:

target (parent)
nucleus

Xx, yY

daughter nucleus

bombarding emitted
particle
particle
The calculation of reaction energy Q has been discussed in
section 14.1.2.
14

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Examples of bombardment reaction:

, p 178 O
7
1
4
7
4
Li

2
He

Li
p
,

OR
3
1
2
3
2 He
10
1
7
4
10
7
OR

Li

He

Q
B
n
,

5
0
3
2
5
3 Li

14
4
17
1
N

He

7
2
8
1H

OR

14
7N

Example 30.4 :
14

17

A nitrogen nucleus 7 N is converted into an oxygen nucleus 8 O

and a proton if it is bombarded by an alpha particle carrying certain
amount of energy.
a. Write down an expression for this nuclear reaction, showing the
atomic number and the mass number of each nuclide and
particle emitted.
b. Calculate the minimum energy of the alpha particle for this
reaction to take place.
(Given mp =0.167351026 kg; m =0.66466 1026 kg ; mass of
nitrogen nucleus , mN =2.325301026 kg; mass of oxygen nucleus,
15
mO =2.822821026 kg ; c =3.00108 m s1)

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Solution :
a. The expression represents the nuclear reaction is
14
7

N 2 He 178 O 11 H Q

b. The mass defect of the reaction is

m mi mf
mN mHe mO mH

2.32530 10 26 0.66466 10 26
2.82282 10 26 0.16735 10 26
Therefore the minimum energy of the alpha particle for this
reaction to take place is

K min Q

K m in m c 2
30
8
2.110 3.00 10

2
16

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Exercise 27.1 :
Given c =3.00108 m s1, mn=1.00867 u, mp=1.00782 u,
1.

Complete the following radioactive decay equations :

a. 8 Be 4 He
4

97
139
b. 240
Po

Sr

94
38
56 Ba

c. 236 U 131 I 3
92

53

d. 11 Na 1 e
29

e. 47 Sc 47 Sc
21

f.

40
19

21

K 40
20 Ca

1
0

17

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Exercise 27.1 :
2.

Calculate the energy released in the alpha decay below:

238
92

U 23490Th 42 He Q

(Given mass of U-238, mU=238.050786 u ; mass of Th-234,

mTh=234.043583 u and mass of particle , m=4.002603 u)

ANS. : 6.871013 J
3. The following nuclear reaction is obtained :
14
7

N 01 n 146 C11 H 0.55 MeV

14

Determine the mass of 6 C in atomic mass unit (u).

(Given the mass of nitrogen nucleus is 14.003074 u)
ANS. : 14.003872 u

18

PHYSICS
CHAPTER 27
Learning Outcome:
27.2

Nuclear fission and fusion (1 hour)

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

Distinguish the processes of nuclear fission and fusion.

Explain the occurrence of fission and fusion in the form

of graph of binding energy per nucleon.

Explain chain reaction in nuclear fission of a nuclear

reactor.

Describe the process of nuclear fusion in the sun.

19

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

27.2 Nuclear fission and fusion

27.2.1 Nuclear fission

is defined as a nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus

splits into two lighter nuclei that are almost equal in mass
with the emission of neutrons and energy.
Nuclear fission releases an amount of energy that is greater
than the energy released in chemical reaction.
Energy is released because the average binding energy per
nucleon of the fission products is greater than that of the
parent.
It can be divided into two types:
spontaneous fission very rarely occur.
induced fission bombarding a heavy nucleus with slow
neutrons or thermal neutrons of low energy (about 102 eV).
This type of fission is the important process in the energy
production.
20

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

For example, consider the bombardment of

neutrons. One of the possible reaction is
235
1
236
85
148
U

Br

92
0
92
35
57 La

235
92 U by

slow

301 n Q

Nucleus in the excited state.

The reaction can also be represented by the diagram in Figure
14.1.
85
35 Br
1
0n

1
0n

1
0n
235
92 U

1
0n

236
92 U

Figure 14.1
Other possible reactions are:

235
1
236
89
144
U

Kr

92
0
92
36
56 Ba

148
57 La

301 n Q

235
1
236
94
139
1
U

Sr

Xe

3
92
0
92
38
54
0n

21

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Most of the fission fragments (daughter nuclei) of the uranium235 have mass numbers from 90 to 100 and from 135 to 145 as
shown in Figure 14.2.

Figure 14.2

22

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Example 27.5 :
Calculate the energy released in MeV when 20 kg of uranium-235
undergoes fission according to
235
1
89
144
U

Kr

92
0
36
56 Ba

301 n Q

(Given the mass of U-235 =235.04393 u, mass of neutron

=1.00867 u, mass of Kr-89 =88.91756 u, mass of Ba-144
=143.92273 u and NA =6.021023 mol1)
Solution :
The mass defect (difference) of fission reaction for one nucleus U235 is

m mi mf
mU mn mKr mBa 3mn
235.04393 1.00867
88.91756 143.92273 3 1.00867
23

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Solution :
The energy released corresponds to the mass defect of one U-235
is
Q m c 2

931 .5 MeV/c 2 2
c
0.1863 u

1
u

Q 174 MeV
235 103 kg of uranium-235 contains of 6.02 1023 nuclei
20

20 kg of urainum-235 contains of
6.02 10 23

3
235 10

5.12 10 25 nuclei

Therefore
Energy released
by 20 kg U-235

5.12 10 25 174
24

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Example 27.6 :
A uranium-235 nucleus undergoes fission reaction by bombarding it
with a slow neutron. The reaction produces a strontium-90 nucleus
90
Sr , a nucleus X and three fast neutrons.

38

a. Write down the expression represents the fission reaction.

b. If the energy released is 210 MeV, calculate the atomic mass of
nucleus X.
(Given the mass of U-235 =235.04393 u, mass of neutron
=1.00867 u and mass of Sr-90 =89.90775 u)
Solution :
a. The expression represents the fission reaction is
235
1
90
143
1
U

Sr

3
92
0
38
54
0n

25

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Solution :
The energy released of 210 MeV equivalent to the mass defect for
2
U-235 is

Q m c

931 .5 MeV/c 2 2
c
210 m

1
u

Therefore the atomic mass of the nucleus X is given by

m mi mf
m mU mn mSr mX 3mn
0.22544 235.04393 1.00867
89.90775 mX 3 1.00867
26

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

27.2.2 Chain reaction

is defined as a nuclear reaction that is self- sustaining as a

result of the products of one fission reaction initiating a
subsequent fission reaction.
Figure 14.3 shows a schematic diagram of the chain reaction.

Simulation 14.1

Figure 14.3

27

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

From Figure 14.3, one neutron initially causes one fission of a

uranium-235 nucleus, the two or three neutrons released can go
on to cause additional fissions, so the process multiples.
This reaction obviously occurred in nuclear reactor.
Conditions to achieve chain reaction in a nuclear reactor :
Slow neutrons are better at causing fission so uranium
are mixed with a material that does not absorb neutrons but
slows them down.
The fissile material must has a critical size which is defined
as the minimum mass of fissile material that will sustain
a nuclear chain reaction where the number of neutrons
produced in fission reactions should balance the
number of neutron escape from the reactor core.
The uncontrolled chain reactions are used in nuclear weapons
atomic bomb (Figure 14.4).
The controlled chain reactions take place in nuclear reactors
(Figure 14.5) and release energy at a steady rate.
28

PHYSICS

Figure 14.4

CHAPTER 27

Figure 14.5

29

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

27.2.3 Nuclear fusion

is defined as a type of nuclear reaction in which two light

nuclei fuse to form a heavier nucleus with the release of
large amounts of energy.
The energy released in this reaction is called thermonuclear
energy.
Examples of fusion reaction releases the energy are
2
2
3
1
H

He

1
1
2
0n Q
2
2
3
1
H

1
1
1
1H Q

The two reacting nuclei in fusion reaction above themselves

have to be brought into collision.
As both nuclei are positively charged there is a strong
repulsive force between them, which can only be overcome
if the reacting nuclei have very high kinetic energies.
These high kinetic energies imply temperatures of the order
of 108 K.
30

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

At these elevated temperatures, however fusion reactions

are self sustaining and the reactants are in form of a plasma
(i.e. nuclei and free electron) with the nuclei possessing
sufficient energy to overcome electrostatic repulsion forces.
The nuclear fusion reaction can occur in fusion bomb and in the
core of a star.
Deuterium-tritium fusion is other example of fusion reaction
where it can be represented by the diagram in Figure 14.6.
Deuterium
Tritium

2
1H

Figure 14.6

Alpha particle
4
2 He

3
1H

Fusion
reaction

Neutron
1
0n

2
3
4
1
H

He

1
1
2
0n

Simulation 14.2
31

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Example 27.7 :
A fusion reaction is represented by the equation below:
2
2
3
1
H

1
1
1
1H

Calculate
a. the energy in MeV released from this fusion reaction,
b. the energy released from fusion of 1.0 kg deuterium,
(Given mass of proton =1.007825 u, mass of tritium =3.016049 u
and mass of deuterium =2.014102 u)
Solution :
a. The mass defect of the fusion reaction for 2 deuterium nuclei is

m mi mf

mD mD mT mp
2.014102 2.014102 3.016049 1.007825
m 4.33 10 3 u
32

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Solution :
a. Therefore the energy released in MeV is

Q m c 2
2

2
931
.
5
MeV/
c
3
c
4.33 10 u

1
u

b. The mass of 2 deuterium nuclei is 4 103 kg.

4 103 kg of deuterium contains of 6.02 1023 nuclei
1.0 kg of deuterium contains of 1.0 6.02 10 23

3
4 10

Therefore
Energy released from

1.0 kg deuterium

1.505 10 4.03
26

33

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

27.2.4 Nuclear fusion in the sun

The sun is a small star which generates energy on its own by

means of nuclear fusion in its interior.

The fuel of fusion reaction comes from the protons available in

the sun.

The protons undergo a set of fusion reactions, producing

isotopes of hydrogen and also isotopes of helium. However, the
helium nuclei themselves undergo nuclear reactions which
produce protons again. This means that the protons go through
a cycle which is then repeated. Because of this proton-proton
cycle, nuclear fusion in the sun can be self sustaining.

The set of fusion reactions in the proton-proton cycle can be

illustrated by Figure 14.7.

34

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

positron (beta plus)

1
1
2
0
H

1
1
1
1e v

neutrino

2
1
3
H

1
1
2 He

3
3
4
1
1
He

He

He

2
2
2
1
1H

Figure 14.7

The amount of energy released per cycle is about 25 MeV.

Nuclear fusion occurs in the interior of the sun because the

temperature of the sun is very high (approximately 1.5 107 K).

35

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

27.2.5 Comparison between fission and fusion

Table 14.2 shows the differences between fission and fusion

reaction.
Fission

Fusion

Splitting a heavy nucleus into two Combines two small nuclei to form
small nuclei.
a larger nucleus.
It occurs at very high temperature
It occurs at temperature can be
(108 K).
controlled.
Difficult to controlled and a
Easier to controlled and
sustained controlled reaction has
sustained.
not yet been achieved.

Table 14.2
The similarity between the fission and fusion reactions is both
reactions produces energy.
Graph of binding energy per nucleon against the mass number
in Figure 14.8 is used to explain the occurrence of fission and
36
fusion reactions.

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Binding energy per

nucleon (MeV/nucleon)

Greatest stability

Fission
The falling part of the binding energy curve
shows that very heavy elements such as
uranium can produce energy by fission of their
nuclei to nuclei of smaller mass number.
Fusion
The rising part of the binding energy curve
shows that elements with low mass
number can produce energy by fusion.

Figure 14.8

Mass number A

37

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Exercise 27.2 :
Given c =3.00108 m s1, mn=1.00867 u, mp=1.00782 u,
1.

Complete the following nuclear reaction equations:

a.
b.

23 He 42 He
58
2
1

Ni

28
1
1H

6
3 Li

1
138
1
c. 235
U

Xe

5
92
0
54
0n

d.
e.
2.

, ____ 126 C
_____ n, p 167 N

9
4 Be

Calculate the energy released in joule for the following fusion

reaction: 21 H 21 H 42 He 01 n

(Given the mass of deuterium =3.3451027 kg, mass of

tritium =5.0081027 kg, mass of He = 6.6471027 kg and
mass of neutron =1.6751027 kg)
38
ANS. : 2.81012 J

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 27

Next Chapter
CHAPTER 28 :
Radioactivity

39