Which of the following is a characteristic of nuclear reactions compared to chem
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following is a characteristic of nuclear reactions compared to chemical reactions? (2023)
Involves electrons
Involves large energy changes
Involves only valence electrons
Involves breaking of chemical bonds
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following is a characteristic of nuclear reactions compared to chemical reactions? (2023)
Step 1: Understand that nuclear reactions and chemical reactions are two different types of processes.
Step 2: Recognize that nuclear reactions involve changes in the nucleus of an atom, while chemical reactions involve changes in the outer electrons.
Step 3: Note that nuclear reactions can release or absorb a lot of energy because they involve the conversion of mass into energy, according to Einstein's equation E=mc².
Step 4: Compare this to chemical reactions, which typically involve much smaller energy changes and do not convert mass into energy.
Step 5: Conclude that the large energy changes in nuclear reactions are a key characteristic that sets them apart from chemical reactions.
