Question

Out of two elements A and B with mass number $2$ and $235$ respectively, which one is suitable for making ,
(a) a nuclear reactor,
(b) a hydrogen bomb?
Name the nuclear reaction involved in each case. Write one difference between the two types of nuclear reactions.

Answer 1

(a) For a nuclear reactor - element B with mass number 235235 is suitable as a fuel in a nuclear reactor.
(b) For a hydrogen bomb - element A with mass number 22 is suitable for making the hydrogen bomb.
The nuclear reaction involved in
(a) nuclear reactor is nuclear fission reaction and
(b) nuclear bomb is nuclear fusion reaction.
Difference between fission and fusion:
Fusion reaction releases much greater energy with non-radioactive products than the energy released in fission reaction with radioactive products.