What is fission and fusion? Many people may know that both are a source of energy, but not too much more than that. What are the advantages and disadvantages of both? How can fission and fusion be used and will both eventually have a use in the future? Throughout this essay you shall find the answers to these questions.

             According to our Chemistry textbook fission can be defined as "the splitting of a nucleus into smaller fragments." A couple of advantages of fission is that relatively little fuel is needed and the fuel is relatively inexpensive and available in trace amounts around the world. Another advantage is that fission is not believed to contribute to global warming or other pollution effects which can be associated with the combustion of fossil fuels. On the other hand, some disadvantages of fission would include, a possibility of nuclear meltdown from the uncontrolled reaction, which may lead to nuclear fallout with potentially harmful effects on civilians. Also the waste products can be used to manufacture weapons, and one last disadvantage is the high initial cost because a plant would require containment safeguards. Fission is used in today"s nuclear reactors and in the atomic bonds. I retrieved most of this information off the internet from a various number of sites.

             Fusion can be defined as what "occurs when two nuclei combine to produce a nucleus of a heavier mass." A few advantages of fusion may include that the fuels (Deuterium and Tritium) are plentiful and is inherently safe since any malfunction results in a rapid shut down. There is also no atmosphere pollution leading to acid rain or the green house effect, and also the materials and by-products of fusion are not suitable for use in the production of nuclear weapons. Some disadvantages however is that there are problems achieving the high temperatures necessary to start the reactions and in containing the reaction, as well as the tremendous technical difficulties it causes.