The Student Room Group

What hapens when we split an iron atom

if we look at the binding energy graph, Iron requires the most energy. So if we give it that energy and it splits into two smaller atoms
1) will any energy be produced or
2) will there be same amount of energy produced as we gave it in order to split or
3) the energy produced will be less than what we used to split it or
something else

Please explain briefly :o: , I am really confused at this binding energy stuff

Reply 1

alithegreat
if we look at the binding energy graph, Iron requires the most energy. So if we give it that energy and it splits into two smaller atoms
1) will any energy be produced or
2) will there be same amount of energy produced as we gave it in order to split or
3) the energy produced will be less than what we used to split it or
something else

Please explain briefly :o: , I am really confused at this binding energy stuff

You would need to input energy in order to split a Fe nucleus.
The energy output by this reaction would be less than you had to put in.

Just to give you some rough numbers.
The binding energy per nucleon for Iron 56 is about 8.8MeV.
So total binding energy of nucleus is 56 x 8.8 MeV = 493MeV

Lets say it splits into 2 equal halves, that would be two Silicon 28 nuclei.
The binding energy per nucleon for silicon is less than iron, it's about 8MeV, let's say. (I'm not sure of the exact value but what's important is that it's less than iron.)
So the binding energy for the 2 silcon nuclei formed is 2 x 28 x 8MeV = 448MeV

This is less than the iron nucleus.

So to split the iron nucleus you need 493MeV, but when you build 2 silicon nuclei you get back only 448MeV.

Overall you lose 45MeV.

In other words, you need 45MeV to do this. It's not a source of energy. It requires energy.
[Please note: this is just a rough calculation to illustrate the principle]

Reply 2

Stonebridge
You would need to input energy in order to split a Fe nucleus.
The energy output by this reaction would be less than you had to put in.

Just to give you some rough numbers.
The binding energy per nucleon for Iron 56 is about 8.8MeV.
So total binding energy of nucleus is 56 x 8.8 MeV = 493MeV

Lets say it splits into 2 equal halves, that would be two Silicon 28 nuclei.
The binding energy per nucleon for silicon is less than iron, it's about 8MeV, let's say. (I'm not sure of the exact value but what's important is that it's less than iron.)
So the binding energy for the 2 silcon nuclei formed is 2 x 28 x 8MeV = 448MeV

This is less than the iron nucleus.

So to split the iron nucleus you need 493MeV, but when you build 2 silicon nuclei you get back only 448MeV.

Overall you lose 45MeV.

In other words, you need 45MeV to do this. It's not a source of energy. It requires energy.
[Please note: this is just a rough calculation to illustrate the principle]


Thnx :smile: