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Chemistry · L4 · Nuclear Chemistry — Why Fission and Fusion Both Release Energy

Fission splits heavy nuclei and fusion joins light nuclei — both move nucleons toward iron-56, the peak of the binding-energy curve, so both release energy.

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Heavy nucleus, e.g. uranium-235BE/nucleon ~ 7.6 MeV/nucleonLight nuclei, e.g. deuterium + tritiumBE/nucleon ~ 1-3 MeV/nucleonSplits into two medium nucleicloser to the iron-56 peakJoins into one heavier nucleuscloser to the iron-56 peakProducts are MORE tightly boundhigher BE/nucleon, nearer iron-56Energy released: E = Δm c²(mass lost as binding energy)FissionFusion

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