Question

Which of the following distinguishes a nuclear reaction from a chemical reaction? a.It involves atoms.

Answer 1

The option that distinguishes a nuclear reaction from a chemical reaction is D. there is a change in the nucleus.
During a nuclear reaction, two light nuclei combine in order to create a new, heavier one which is different than those two original ones and has additional particles that it didn't have originally. This is what makes the difference between these two reactions.

Answer 2

Answer: Option (D) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

In a nuclear reaction, subparticles like protons and neutrons are involved in a reaction. So, basically changes in the nucleus of an atom occurs.

This is because in a nuclear reaction either two nuclei combine to form a larger nuclei different from its parent atom or nucleus of an atom dissociates into different atoms.

For example, $^{2}_{1}H + ^{3}_{1}H \rightarrow ^{4}_{2}He + ^{1}_{0}n$ is a nuclear fusion reaction.

Whereas in a chemical reaction exchange of electrons occur or we can say electrons are involved in chemical reactions.

For example, $2Na(s) + Cl_{2}(g) \rightarrow 2NaCl$

Thus, we can conclude that out of the given options, there is a change in the nucleus distinguishes a nuclear reaction from a chemical reaction.