As Francium is the most unstable element, how much more energy will it generate if it is split compared to, let’s say Uranium?
In: Physics
The fissionability of an element is not he same as its radioactivity.
Fission is the splitting of a large atom into smaller atoms and free neutrons. If you add up the mass of the before and the after you find there is a mass defect. Some of the mass is missing. This mass was converted to energy (E=MC2).
Radioactive decay does not convert that much mass. There are elements across the entire periodic table that are radioactive, but are not fissile. For instance tritium is a proton and two neutrons. It is radioactive and does decay, but is obviously NOT fissile. There is really nothing to split it into.
It really is two different process. Splitting or fission and radioactive decay are not the same process. And with splitting or fission, both natural and induced, the amount of energy is dependant on the random resultant atoms that come from the split. There are averages for fission results for each fissile isotope, but they don’t really fully relate to energy generated by radioactive decay.
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