29.5 Examples of Nuclear Reactions

Nuclear energy comes in one of two varieties:

1. fission of large nuclei like uranium-235
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2. fusion of small nuclei like tritium and deuterium
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The fission of uranium-235 is widely used in reactors, such as the CANDU reactor.  Fusion does not produce the unstable and biologically dangerous daughter nuclei of fission.  Fusion produces stable helium atoms.  Research is being conducted to find a technological solution to sustain the fusion reaction.  However, a sustained and practical use of fusion is yet to be achieved, but it holds great promise as an infinite source of clean, environmentally safe energy.