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Chapter 21: Problem 1

How do nuclear reactions differ from ordinary chemical reactions?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Nuclear reactions involve changes in the nucleus of an atom and can change one element into another, often releasing large amounts of energy. Chemical reactions, on the other hand, involve a rearrangement of electrons within an atom and occur on the electron shell; they can't transform one element to another. Hence, the key differences lie in where the reaction takes place (nucleus versus electron shell), the possibility of elemental transformation, and the amount of energy released.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions occur when two substances interact to form new substances. This process involves the rearrangement of atoms and the breaking and forming of new chemical bonds between these atoms. These reactions only affect the arrangements of electrons in an atom as they occur in the electron shell.
02

Understanding Nuclear Reactions

A nuclear reaction involves changes in the nucleus of an atom. Unlike chemical reactions, nuclear reactions can change one element into another. In these reactions, there is a change in the protons or neutrons in the atom's nucleus. This often involves the release of a large amount of energy.
03

Distinguishing Between the Two

The major differences between nuclear and chemical reactions include the following: In chemical reactions, atoms are changed by reconfiguring the electrons, while in nuclear reactions, atoms are changed by altering the protons or neutrons in the nucleus. Additionally, nuclear reactions release much more energy compared to chemical reactions. Lastly, nuclear reactions can change an element into an entirely different element, a transformation that doesn鈥檛 occur in chemical reactions.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Discuss the differences between a light water and a heavy water nuclear fission reactor. What are the advantages of a breeder reactor over a conventional nuclear fission reactor?

Explain the functions of a moderator and a control rod in a nuclear reactor.

Strontium- 90 is one of the products of the fission of uranium- \(235 .\) This strontium isotope is radioactive, with a half-life of 28.1 yr. Calculate how long (in yr) it will take for \(1.00 \mathrm{~g}\) of the isotope to be reduced to \(0.200 \mathrm{~g}\) by decay.

In each pair of isotopes shown, indicate which one you would expect to be radioactive: (a) \({ }_{10}^{20} \mathrm{Ne}\) and \({ }_{10}^{17} \mathrm{Ne},(\mathrm{b}){ }_{20}^{40} \mathrm{Ca}\) and \({ }_{20}^{45} \mathrm{Ca},(\mathrm{c}){ }_{44}^{95} \mathrm{Mo}\) and \({ }_{43}^{92} \mathrm{Tc},(\mathrm{d}){ }_{80}^{195} \mathrm{Hg}\) and \({ }^{196} \mathrm{Hg},\) (e) \({ }^{209} \mathrm{Bi}\) and \({ }_{96}^{242} \mathrm{Cm}\)

Which of the following poses a greater health hazard: a radioactive isotope with a short half-life or a radioactive isotope with a long half-life? Explain. [Assume same type of radiation \((\alpha\) or \(\beta)\) and comparable energetics per particle emitted.
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