Themes > Science > Chemistry > Nuclear Chemistry > Nuclear Reactions > Nuclear Reactions Versus Chemical Reactions

Six Differences between nuclear reactions and chemical reactions.
Nuclear Reactions                                 Chemical Reactions

1.  Protons and neutrons react       1.  Electrons react outside nucleus.
          inside nucleus.

2.  Elements transmute into other    2.  The same number of each kind of 
          elements.                atom appear in the reactants and products.

3.  Isotopes react differently.      3.  Isotopes react the same.

4.  Independent of chemical          4.  Depend on chemical combination. 
combination.
                            
5.  Energy changes equal 10^8 kJ.    5.  Energy changes equal
                                             10 - 10^3 kJ/mol.

6.  Mass changes are detectable.      6.  Mass reactants = mass products.


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