nuclear reactions
Splitting or fusing
Nuclear reactions are processes that alter the nucleus of an atom—splitting it (fission), combining nuclei (fusion), or transforming elements through particle bombardment.
Unlike chemical reactions, which involve electrons, nuclear reactions release or absorb enormous amounts of energy by converting mass itself.
They power the sun, nuclear reactors, and atomic weapons: The reactor relies on controlled nuclear reactions.
Highest-frequency electromagnetic radiation
- beta decayRadioactive nucleon transformation process
- alpha decayEmission of helium nuclei
- radioactive decayUnstable atoms releasing energy
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
ionizing radiation · radionuclides · dosimeter · contamination · irradiation · fallout · shielding · exposure
Dividing into parts
- uranium-235Fissile nuclear isotope
- plutonium-239Fissile actinide isotope
- critical massThreshold for self-sustaining reaction
- reactor coreCentral fission zone
control rods · moderator · breeder reactor · transmutation · subcritical · supercritical · cross-section · fuel rods
Electrified matter state
- tokamakPlasma confinement device
- thermonuclearInvolving nuclear fusion heat
- deuteriumHydrogen isotope with neutron
- tritiumHydrogen's radioactive isotope
helium-3 · ignition · magnetic confinement · inertial confinement · breakeven
Controlled fission apparatus
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- steam generatorDevice producing water vapor
- coolantTemperature-regulating fluid
megawatts · pressurized water · boiling water · grid · baseload · containment · decommissioning · cogeneration
Atomic core formation process
Uncharged nuclear particle
- protonPositive nuclear particle
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
- nucleonProton or neutron
- positronElectron's antimatter counterpart
neutrino · alpha particle · beta particle · strong force · weak force · quark · bombardment · atomic number
gamma rays
Highest-frequency electromagnetic radiation
- beta decayRadioactive nucleon transformation process
- alpha decayEmission of helium nuclei
- radioactive decayUnstable atoms releasing energy
half-life · ionizing radiation · radionuclides · dosimeter · contamination · irradiation · fallout · shielding · exposure · radon
splitting
Dividing into parts
- uranium-235Fissile nuclear isotope
- plutonium-239Fissile actinide isotope
- critical massThreshold for self-sustaining reaction
reactor core · control rods · moderator · breeder reactor · transmutation · subcritical · supercritical · cross-section · fuel rods · meltdown
plasma
Electrified matter state
- tokamakPlasma confinement device
- thermonuclearInvolving nuclear fusion heat
- deuteriumHydrogen isotope with neutron
tritium · helium-3 · ignition · magnetic confinement · inertial confinement · breakeven
reactor
Controlled fission apparatus
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- steam generatorDevice producing water vapor
coolant · megawatts · pressurized water · boiling water · grid · baseload · containment · decommissioning · cogeneration
nucleosynthesis
Atomic core formation process
red giant · white dwarf · nova · main sequence · primordial
neutron
Uncharged nuclear particle
positron · neutrino · alpha particle · beta particle · strong force · weak force · quark · bombardment · atomic number · mass number
- nuclear scienceradiation, neutrons, atoms, nuclei, fission
- nuclear astrophysicsnucleosynthesis, kilonova, supernovae, core collapse, heavy elements
- nuclear physicsfission, neutron, proton, reactor, atomic number
- particle collisionscollision, elastic collision, scattering, energy transfer, cross section
- stellar chemistryhydrogen, helium, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen
- element propertiesatomic number, atomic mass, atomic weight, symbol, electronegativity
nuclear reactionschemical reactions
Processes changing substance composition
oxidation · biochemical reactions · metabolism · photosynthesis · digestion
nuclear reactionsbiological processes
Functions sustaining living organisms
reaction, nuclear, nucleus, nucleotide, nucleate, nucleotides, antinuclear, nonnuclear, nuclearize