WEEK-1

PEER GRADED ASSIGNMENT-2

Q. How much energy (in kcal again) is released in the fission (splitting up) of one atom of
nuclei of 92U235 into 40Zr96 and 52Te130?

Solution.
When uranium-235 undergoes a neutron-induced fission reaction, it will split into two
smaller nuclei, which, in your case, are tellurium-130, 130Te, and zirconium-96, 96Zr,
releasing neutrons and gamma rays in the process.
So, you know that the uranium-235 nucleus must collide with a neutron, which is a subatomic
particle that has no electric charge and a mass approximately equal to that of a proton, 1.

The equation is
U235 + 0n1→52Te130+40Zr96+ 10 0n1
92

Therefore Heat of formation

∆Hf = ∑ Hf (Products) - ∑ Hf (Reactants)
= [(-8.64*96*3.876*10-17) + (-8.43*96*3.876*10-17)]-(-7.60*235*3.876*10-17)
= -0.53*10-14 Kcal.
Here ‘-‘indicates that the reaction is an Exothermic reaction.
Therefore the heat (in kcal) released when burning one atom of Uranium-235 is -0.53*10-14
Kcal.