Question

Which statement explains the energy term in this reaction

Answer 1

Answer:

Mass is lost due to the conversion of mass to energy

Explanation:

The question is not complete, the complete question is given as:

        $^{235}_{72}U +^{1}_{0}n$                       ⇒        $^{140}_{56}Ba+^{93}_{36}Kr+3^{1}_{0}n+energy$

total mass equals 236.053 u              total mass equals 235.868 u

Which statement explains the energy term in this reaction? (1) Mass is gained due to the conversion of mass to energy. (2) Mass is gained due to the conversion of energy to mass. (3) Mass is lost due to the conversion of mass to energy. (4) Mass is lost due to the conversion of energy to mass.

Answer: From Einstein’s equation  E = mc², when a radioisotope element undergoes fission or fusion in a nuclear reaction, it loses a tiny amount of mass.This mass lost is converted to energy.

The law of conservation of energy  holds for this type of reaction (i.e  the sum of mass and energy is remains the same in a nuclear reaction). Mass changes to energy, but the total amount of mass and energy combined remains the same before and after a nuclear reaction.

From the reaction above, the total decrease in mass = 236.053 - 235.868 = 0.185 u