Nuclear reaction

Nuclear reaction refers to a process in which two nuclei, or a nucleus of an atom and a subatomic particle such as a proton, neutron, or high energy electron, collide to produce one or more nuclides that are different from the nuclide(s) that began the process.

Overview

In a nuclear reaction, the total charge must be conserved, so the number of protons should be the same before and after the reaction. The properties of the atomic nuclei (the 'species' of atom) involved in nuclear reactions are thus changed significantly. This contrasts with chemical reactions, where the number of protons and neutrons in atomic nuclei remain unchanged.

Types of Nuclear Reactions

There are several types of nuclear reactions, including:

• Nuclear fusion: This is a reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei come close enough to form one or more different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles. The difference in mass between the reactants and products is manifested as the release of large amounts of energy.
• Nuclear fission: This is a nuclear reaction or a radioactive decay process in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller, lighter nuclei. The fission process often produces gamma photons, and releases a very large amount of energy.
• Neutron capture: This is a nuclear reaction in which an atomic nucleus and one or more neutrons collide and merge to form a heavier nucleus.

See Also

• Nuclear physics
• Radioactive decay
• Nuclear chain reaction

References

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External Links

• Britannica: Nuclear Reaction

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