Question

How does a nuclear reaction differ from a chemical reaction? entropy is increased in a chemical reaction while it is decreased in a nuclear reaction. in a nuclear reaction, the elements change identities while in a chemical reaction they do not. in a chemical reaction, elements are created and destroyed while all elements are conserved in a nuclear reaction. entropy is increased in a nuclear reaction while it is decreased in a chemical reaction. there is no actual difference between the two reactions except that a nuclear reaction emits radiation while a chemical reaction emits heat?

Answer 1

The answer would be that in a nuclear reaction, the elements change identities while in a chemical reaction they do not.

Entropy is increases in both reactions, and although a nuclear reaction does emit radiation, it also emits heat. The nuclear reaction takes place in the nucleus, where protons and neutrons are converted or ripped away from the conglomerate in a forceful reaction; the chemical reaction takes place in the electron cloud, instead of the nucleus, with the exchange of electrons being the primary motive for chemical change. It’s this difference that makes nuclear reactions significantly more powerful than chemical reactions.