ATOMIC ENERGY

Atomic energy is an outdated phrase which can mean a number of things related to energy produced by atoms:

• Radioactivity, the set of various processes by which unstable atomic nuclei (nuclides) emit subatomic particles
• Nuclear reaction, a process in which two nuclei or nuclear particles collide, to produce different products than the initial products; see also nuclear fission and nuclear fusion
• Nuclear energy, energy produced by nuclear reactors
• The energy of inter-atomic or chemical bonds, which holds atoms together in compounds.

The term may have originated with H. G. Wells in the phrase, "splitting the atom", devised at a time prior to the discovery of the nucleus. The term is a solecism, and should be retired.

See also

• List of environment topics

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