Final answer:
When a Ne-20 atom absorbs a He-4 atom and forms a Mg-24 atom, it is a process of Nuclear Fusion, a type of nuclear reaction that combines light nuclei to form heavier nuclei and is distinct from chemical reactions and nuclear fission.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a Ne-20 atom absorbs a He-4 atom resulting in the creation of a Mg-24 atom, this process represents a Nuclear Fusion reaction. Nuclear fusion is defined as a reaction where two nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus, and it's typically associated with the release of energy. This process differs significantly from a chemical reaction, where only the electrons are involved, and the reaction typically involves transferring or sharing electrons between atoms without changing the atoms' nuclei. Nuclear fusion often occurs in stars, where intense pressure and heat allow for such high-energy processes.
To further illustrate, nuclear reactions are characterized by changes in the atoms' nuclei as opposed to changes in electron configurations as seen in chemical reactions. Nuclear fission, on the other hand, is a reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits into two or more smaller nuclei, often releasing energy as well. The creation of a Mg-24 atom from Ne-20 and He-4 is an example of building heavier nuclei from lighter ones, distinct from fission, which is the breaking down of heavier nuclei.
In summary, the process described is not a standard chemical reaction nor nuclear fission where a nucleus splits; it is a bona fide nuclear reaction—in specific, nuclear fusion, where the nucleus of one atom combines with that of another to form a new nuclide, in this case, a Mg-24 atom.