Question

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

Answer 1

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.....