| MadSci Network: Physics |
No, atoms do not reproduce themselves as a cell does. When an atom "splits" what really happens is that the nucleus of an atom splits into two smaller pieces. This is called "nuclear fission". It happens only in atoms in which the nucleus is very large, such as uranium-235. This nucleus has 92 protons and 143 neutrons in it. For example, it could split into an nucleus of an atom of iodine (53 protons) and a nucleus of an atom of yttrium (39 protons). There are many other possibilities, but the two resulting pieces are roughly the same size. One is not usually very small and the other very big. In any case, such nuclear fission events release a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation, and also some extra neutrons that are left over. These extra neutrons can go on to help split more uranium nuclei. This splitting process with the release of large amounts of heat and radiation is what makes nuclear bombs and nuclear reactors work. In a bomb all of the fission events occur very quickly at the same time, while in a reactor they are carefully controlled and occur more slowly, spread out over time. That way the heat can be used to heat up water into steam for an electric generator.
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