Question

In a fission reaction, how does the number of reactants compare to the number of products? A. There are more reactants. B. There are fewer reactants. C. The number of products and reactants is the same. D. Sometimes there are more reactants and sometimes there are fewer reactants.

Answer 1

Answer: Option (B) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

A process in which a large nuclei of an atom splits into two small nuclei is known as a nuclear fission.

For example, $^{238}_{92}U \rightarrow ^{234}_{90}Th + ^{4}_{2}He$ is a nuclear fission reaction.

So, there will be one reactant on bombardment with another element or particle will give more number of products in a fission reaction.

And, when two small nuclei combine together and result in the formation of a large nuclei then it is known as nuclear fusion.

For example, $^{2}_{1}H + ^{2}_{1}H \rightarrow ^{4}_{2}He$ is a nuclear fusion reaction.

Therefore, we can conclude that in a fission reaction, there are fewer reactants.

Answer 2

B. There are fewer reactants.