When uranium-235 absorbs a neutron it becomes unstable and splits into two medium-mass nuclei plus two or three neutrons, with products having higher binding energy per nucleon than the original. The released neutrons can trigger further fissions creating a chain reaction that exponentially multiplies energy output if uncontrolled. This is the real knowscape from knowhere, not a picture of one. Drag it. Watch what actually changes.
The nucleus is heavier than its parts should allow — except it isn't, because the missing mass left as binding energy when the thing formed. Fusion is just this run in reverse: fuse light nuclei, land somewhere more tightly bound, and the mass deficit ships out as E=mc². That's what a star burns.
Fission releases energy because the total binding energy of the products exceeds that of uranium-235, with the released neutrons capable of triggering chain reactions in surrounding nuclei.
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