Uranium-235 Fission

235U + 1n → 141Ba + 92Kr + 31n

Overview

A uranium-235 nucleus absorbs a slow neutron and splits into barium-141 and krypton-92, releasing three neutrons and approximately 200 MeV of energy. This is one of many possible fission product combinations. The three released neutrons can trigger further fissions, creating a chain reaction. One kg of U-235 releases energy equivalent to 20,000 tonnes of TNT.

Participants

Role Substance Coefficient State
Reactant Uranium U 1 (s)
Product Barium Ba 1 (s)
Product Krypton Kr 1 (g)

Everyday Example

Nuclear power plants use controlled U-235 fission to generate about 10% of the world's electricity without direct CO₂ emissions.

Industrial Importance

Nuclear fission generates about 2,700 TWh of electricity annually from 440 reactors worldwide, providing reliable baseload power.

Properties

Type
Nuclear
Reversible
No
Energy
Exothermic
ΔH
-19200000000.0 kJ/mol

Related Reactions

Alpha Decay of Polonium-210 Alpha Decay of Radium-226 Alpha Decay of Radon-222 Alpha Decay of Thorium-232 Alpha Decay of Uranium-238 Americium-241 Alpha Decay Beta Decay of Carbon-14 Beta Decay of Cesium-137 Beta Decay of Cobalt-60 Beta Decay of Iodine-131

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the equation for Uranium-235 Fission?
The balanced equation is: ²³⁵U + ¹n → ¹⁴¹Ba + ⁹²Kr + 3¹n.
What type of reaction is Uranium-235 Fission?
Uranium-235 Fission is a nuclear reaction.
Is Uranium-235 Fission exothermic or endothermic?
Uranium-235 Fission is exothermic (releases energy). The enthalpy change (ΔH) is -19200000000.0 kJ/mol.