If I have the fission of U-235 and I know that one of the products is Cs-137, is there a way of figuring out the other product? Should there be multiple possibilities?

Kymani Hatfield

Kymani Hatfield

Answered question

2022-10-15

If I have the fission of U-235 and I know that one of the products is Cs-137, is there a way of figuring out the other product? Should there be multiple possibilities?

Answer & Explanation

Marlene Welch

Marlene Welch

Beginner2022-10-16Added 23 answers

The total amount of nucleons is preserved during fission.
As a result the atomic number of a daughter product can be predicted if another was already known. In the case of C s 55 137 fissioning to C s 55 137 , we know the atomic number of the second fission product is given by:
92 = 55 + Z, i.e. Z = 37, which is the atomic nummber of Rb (rubidium).
Now as to the atomic weight of the R b isotope, also use preservation of neutrons.
A C s 55 137 nucleus contains 235 92 = 143 neutrons and a C s 55 137 nucleus contains 137 55 = 82 neutrons. The difference is 143 82 = 61 neutrons to be allocated.
Assume that 2 to 4 free neutrons also resulted from the fission then that leaves 57 to 59 neutrons for the R b isotope so its atomic weight is probably 94 to 98.

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