When used as an energy source, is uranium burned in a similar way as one would burn wood or coal for energy?

1 Answer
anor277
Apr 17, 2017

Nope...............

Explanation:

The burning of wood or coal relies on the release of chemical energy:

#C(s)+O_2(g)rarrCO_2(g) + Delta#

I am no nuclear chemist, but when #""^235U# undergoes fission it undergoes a certain mass loss, whereas in every chemical reaction ever performed, MASS is conserved.

So where does the mass go? It is converted to energy; you have no doubt come across the equation, #E=mc^2#. What are the individual terms in this equation?

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