Nuclear Chemistry: Fission, Fusion, & Nuclear Power

The lesson begins with artificial transmutations and particle accelerators. Then, the lesson moves into nuclear power and nuclear waste. Students will learn how a nuclear power plant works, and compare nuclear power to hydroelectric power and coal burning power. Once we have discussed nuclear power, students are ready to identify fission and fusion and the differences between both of these types of nuclear reactions. This lesson is full of a lot of discussion points, and students seem to really get involved in the subject. For most students, they have not encountered nuclear power before. Embedded in the PowerPoint are five short videos that are both informative and interesting. Lesson Objectives: * Define nuclear fission, chain reaction, and nuclear fusion and distinguish between them. * Describe how a fission reaction is used in a nuclear power plant * Discuss nuclear waste and current problems in the storage of nuclear waste * Compare nu