fissile
Prone to splitting
Fissile describes material capable of being split.
In nuclear physics, fissile refers to isotopes that can sustain a chain reaction when bombarded with neutrons: fissile uranium-235, fissile plutonium.
More generally, fissile means tending to split along natural planes, as certain rocks or minerals do: fissile shale breaks into thin layers.
Able to be divided
- divisibleAble to be separated
- cleavableAble to be split
- separableCapable of being divided
- laminarArranged in thin layers
layered · foliated · stratified · shale · slate · schist · flaky · exfoliating
Fissile nuclear isotope
- plutonium-239Fissile actinide isotope
- reactorControlled fission apparatus
- enrichmentImprovement through addition
- breederOne who raises stock
isotope · cross-section · actinides · transuranic · moderator · subcritical · centrifuge · yellowcake
Liable to shatter
- friableReadily reduced to fragments
- crumblyProne to fragmenting
- splinteryProne to breaking sharply
- breakableCapable of shattering
shatterable · delicate · weak · crackable · fragmentary · disintegrating
splittable
Able to be divided
laminar · layered · foliated · stratified · shale · slate · schist · flaky · exfoliating · platy
uranium-235
Fissile nuclear isotope
- plutonium-239Fissile actinide isotope
- reactorControlled fission apparatus
- enrichmentImprovement through addition
breeder · isotope · cross-section · actinides · transuranic · moderator · subcritical · centrifuge · yellowcake · weapons-grade
brittle
Liable to shatter
breakable · shatterable · delicate · weak · crackable · fragmentary · disintegrating
- nuclear fissionAtomic core division
- atomic fissionSplitting heavy nuclei
- fission bombWeapon splitting heavy atoms
- binary fissionAsexual splitting into two
- fission reactorsMachines harnessing split atoms
- fission reactionNucleus divides into fragments