Question

What is a major difference between a chemical reaction and a nuclear reaction? A) Only chemical reactions release light. B) Only chemical reactions can release gamma rays. C) Only nuclear reactions can change the identity of the atom. D) Only nuclear reactions release energy.

Answer 1

Answer: Option (C) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

A nuclear reaction is a reaction which brings change in the nucleus of an atom.

For example, $^{2}_{1}H + ^{3}_{1}H \rightarrow ^{4}_{2}He + ^{1}_{0}n$

A chemical reaction is a reaction which results in the formation of new compounds which have different properties than their reactants.

Hence, in a nuclear reaction changes in an atom occurs whereas in a chemical reaction changes in a compound or molecule occurs.

Thus, we can conclude that a major difference between a chemical reaction and a nuclear reaction is that only nuclear reactions can change the identity of the atom.

Answer 2

I think it is C. its the only one that makes sense