Chapter 24, Problem 34A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Chemical reactions and nuclear reactions in terms of energy changes and the particles involved needs to be explained.

Concept introduction:

Atoms can gain, lose, or share valence electrons, but the identity of the atoms does not change. Nuclear chemistry deals with the structure of atomic nuclei and the modifications that they are undergoing. Whereas chemical reactions require only slight changes in energy, nuclear reactions involve much greater changes in energy.

Answer to Problem 34A

Comparison of chemical and nuclear reactions are as follows:

Chemical reaction	Nuclear reaction
A chemical reaction is balanced in terms of mass only.	Nuclear reaction is balanced in terms of both mass and energy.
This reaction involves emission of electrons.	This reaction involves emission of alpha, beta and gamma particles from the nucleus.
A small amount of energy is changes	A greater amount of energy changes in this reaction.

Explanation of Solution

Chemical reactions are formed when bonds are broken while nuclear reaction happens when nuclei combine, split, and emit radiation. In chemical reaction rearrangement of electrons arises. Temperature, pressure and catalyst affect reaction rate of chemical reaction while this factors do not affect the reaction rate of nuclear reaction.

Conclusion

Although a chemical reaction produces new substances by gaining, losing or sharing electrons but atoms involve in this reaction keep the same identity while in nuclear reaction Atoms of one element are often transferred into atoms of another element.