Question

Which of the following is true for a nuclear reaction?

O electrons are lost
O electrons are gained
O identity of element changes
O identity of element remains same flag question

Answer 1

In a nuclear reaction, the identity of an element changes due to changes in the nucleus of the atom. This differs from chemical reactions where only electrons are exchanged and ions are formed, but the elemental identity remains the same.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of nuclear reactions, it is true that the identity of an element changes. This is because a nuclear reaction involves changes to the nucleus of an atom, which can result in the transformation of one element into another. This contrasts with ordinary chemical reactions where electrons may be transferred or shared, but the nuclei remain unchanged, retaining the identity of the original elements.

For example, during the process of radioactive decay, an unstable atom may emit particles from its nucleus which transforms it into an atom of a different element. In a fusion reaction, lighter nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, also changing the identity of the elements involved. Conversely, in fission, a heavy nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei, once again altering the identity of the elements.

When atoms gain or lose electrons in chemical reactions, they form ions but do not change their elemental identity. This is important in oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions where electrons are exchanged between atoms, but no change in the elemental identity occurs.