| Nuclear Fission | Nuclear Fusion | |
| Definition: | Fission is the splitting of a large atom into two or more smaller ones. | Fusion is the fusing of two or more lighter atoms into a larger one. |
| Natural occurrence of the process: | Fission reaction does not normally occur in nature. | Fusion occurs in stars, such as the sun. |
| Byproducts of the reaction: | Fission produces many highly radioactive particles. | Few radioactive particles are produced by fusion reaction, but if a fission "trigger" is used, radioactive particles will result from that. |
| Conditions: | Critical mass of the substance and high-speed neutrons are required. | High density, high temperature environment is required. |
| Energy Requirement: | Takes little energy to split two atoms in a fission reaction. | Extremely high energy is required to bring two or more protons close enough that nuclear forces overcome their electrostatic repulsion. |
| Energy Released: | The energy released by fission is a million times greater than that released in chemical reactions; but lower than the energy released by nuclear fusion. | The energy released by fusion is three to four times greater than the energy released by fission. |
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