Question

List two advantages of power production by nuclear fusion, over nuclear fission.

Answer 1

Hint: If two elements combine and form a new product then it is called nuclear fusion. A radioactive element undergoes a decay process and releases daughter ions to get stability through the nuclear fission process.

Complete answer:
- In the question it is asked to write the two advantages of power production by nuclear fusion over nuclear fission.
- An example for nuclear fusion reaction is as follows.
\[A+B\to AB\]
- In nuclear fusion reactions elements combine and form a stable nucleus as the product and liberates huge amounts of energy.
- An example for nuclear fission reaction is as follows.
\[AB\to A+B\]
- In the nuclear fission process the parent element undergoes radioactive decay and forms the products A and B. Sometimes the formed daughter elements also contain radioactivity and further undergoes fission reaction and liberates more energy.
- The advantages of nuclear fusion over nuclear fission are as follows.
a) Nuclear fusion reactions produce enormous amounts of energy and it is very high when compared to nuclear fission reactions.
b) Nuclear fusion reactions do not produce radioactive elements as the products but nuclear fission reactions produce radioactive elements as the products.
- Therefore nuclear fusion reactions have more advantages over nuclear fission reactions.

Note: Uranium is a radioactive element that undergoes nuclear fission and produces Barium, krypton and neutrons as the products. Hydrogen undergoes nuclear fusion reaction and produces helium as the product with liberation of a huge amount of energy. Generally it happens in the sun and produces more heat.