Atoms can be broken down through __________ processes. Please help?!
Atoms can be broken down through ____ processes.
A.) chemical processes, but not nuclear
B.) nuclear processes, but not chemical
C.) both chemical and nuclear
D.) only biological
Atoms can be broken down through ____ processes.
A.) chemical processes, but not nuclear
B.) nuclear processes, but not chemical
C.) both chemical and nuclear
D.) only biological
1 Answer
B.) nuclear processes, but not chemical
Explanation:
Atoms cannot be broken down chemically or physically, due to the fact that every atom has different amounts of protons in its nucleus. These atoms are identified to be of different elements based on its atomic number or the amount of protons in it's nucleus.
THIS IS IMPORTANT: In a chemical reaction, the protons in the nucleus stay constant, and the identity of the element is preserved and thus conserved. The only things that react in a chemical reaction, lose or gain are electrons, typically the valence or the electrons in the outer most ring.
In a nuclear reaction however, the identity of these atoms is not preserved as protons are lost and gained, and thus different elements can be changed into other elements. In nuclear changes, it is all about the protons in the nucleus, which changes the identity of the element and the atom.
