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Nuclear fission is the process in which a heavy nucleus splits into two or more lighter nuclei, releasing enormous energy. Option B is correct: When Uranium-235 absorbs a slow neutron, it becomes unstable and splits into Barium-141 and Krypton-92, releasing 3 neutrons and large amounts of energy. This discovery was made by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann in 1938. Option A is incorrect: Fusion of two light nuclei describes nuclear fusion, the opposite process, which occurs in stars. Option C is incorrect: Emission of electrons from the nucleus describes beta decay, a type of radioactive decay, not fission. Option D is incorrect: Conversion of proton to neutron describes beta-plus decay or electron capture, not fission. Nuclear fission is the basis of nuclear power plants and atomic bombs. The chain reaction sustained in a reactor produces continuous energy.
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