How would you estimate the difference in energy produced when we burn 1kg of carbon vs producing nuclear energy from 1kg of U-235.?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 4, 2018

Well, you got a chemical process versus a nuclear process....

Explanation:

You got combustion of carbon....

#C(s) + O_2(g) rarrCO_2(g) + Delta#

Versus a nuclear process...

#""^235U+n rarr ""^141Ba+""^92Kr+3n+Delta#

The energy output can be measured in both reactions....however, the energies involved in nuclear reactions dwarf those involved in a chemical reaction....you remember #e=mc^2# and all that stuff #e="energy"#, #m="mass"#, and #c="speed of light"#.

You might get a better answer in the fysics section....we ignorant chemists don't go much in for nuclei.....

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