Why does splitting an atom create energy? And why is it so much energy?

Question

Why does splitting an atom create energy? And why is it so much energy?

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Answer 1

This is an interesting question, because sometimes you get energy by pushing atoms together, *i.e.*, fusion, and sometime you get energy by splitting atoms apart, *i.e.*, fission.

There is a curve of what is called “binding energy per nucleon,” and it maxes out at ~~tin~~ *iron*, ~~which unsurprisingly has the most stable isotopes~~.

If you push two atoms together to make something smaller than tin, like 2 hydrogens to make a helium, you get A LOT of energy. If you split an atom apart to get two elements heavier than tin, you get some energy out. Still a lot, but not nearly as much.