What is Nuclear Reaction and it's types?

Definition

 

                       “The process in which two nuclei collide to produce different products is called Nuclear Reaction.”

                        The Nuclear reaction X (a, b) Y is written as

                                                                                

a     +     X  →  Y   +   b

                                                               

The particle a is projectile while X is called target. The particle b is emerging nucleus and Y is called residual nucleus.

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TYPES OF NUCLEAR REACTION

                       The general types of nuclear reactions are:

1. Nuclear Decay
2. Nuclear Transmutation
3. Fission
4. Fusion
5. Capture Reactions 
6. Rearrangement Reactions

                                Now we discuss these types one by one.

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1. Nuclear Decay

 

               “The process in which an unstable isotope of a particular element spontaneously transforms into a new element by emission of ionizing radiation is called Nuclear Decay.”

 

2. Transmutation

           

              “The reverse process of nuclear decay is called Transmutation. It is a non-spontaneous process. One element is converted to another element by the bombardment of high energy radiation or neutron.”

 

The process of Transmutation can be explained as:

1.       Elastic Scattering

2.       Inelastic Scattering

3.       Exothermic Nuclear Reaction

4.       Endothermic Nuclear Reaction

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3. Fission

   

      “A heavy nucleus is split into two or more smaller nuclei in Fission.”

                      The well known neutron induced fission reactions are:

                                                               U-235(n, 3n) fission products

                                                              Pu-239(n, 3n) fission products

These reactions release  energy. The released neutrons start continuous chain reactions.

 

4. Fusion

 

    “Two or more lighter nuclei come together to make a heavy nucleus in Fusion.”

                    Example

                          The fusion reaction of deuterium and tritium is particularly interesting of energy.

 

5. Capture Reactions

 

   “The reactions in which both charged and neutral projectiles are captured by target nuclei are called Capture Nuclear Reactions.”

              The neutron capture reactions are used to produce radioactive nuclides.

 

      Example

             Phosphorous-31 on undergoing neutron capture reaction phosphorous-32.

 

6. Rearrangement Reactions

 

    “The absorption of a projectile accompanied by the emission of one or more particles is called Rearrangement Reactions.”

 Example 

             He-4(a, P)Li-7

        Various rearrangement reactions change the number of neutrons and the number of protons of the target nuclide.

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