A Comparison of the Amount of Energy Released Through a Chemical Reaction and Nuclear Fusion nd Fission

To begin, neuclear reactions release more enegry than chemical reactions.
Neuclear energy consists of fusion and fission. Neuclear fission is the process in which a large nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei with the release of energy as mentioned in our first post, while neuclear fusion is when two or more nuclei with small masses join together to form a larger, more massive nucleus. As you can immagine this takes a whole lot of energy. Massive amounts are released/created when a nucleus splits or when nuclei join. The reason fission takes so much energy is because both nuclei have positive charges which as you may know repel (like charges repel and opposites attract). Neuclear fission also takes and relases massive amounts of energy because of the proccess. For it to occur an atom must be unstable and unbalaced so it will want to split. If a neutron is shot to a nucleus very, very fast then protons out number neutrons creating an unbalanced and unstable atom. For the atom and nucleus to become more stable the nucleus must split making two nuclei so protons and neutrons are equal again. The law of concervation of energy states tha energy cannot be created or destroyed. This just shows how big fission and fusion are since as you now know fission destroys and fusion creates.

Compared to fission and fusion chemical reactions seem like nothing. Chemical reactions are just changes in energy. In exothermic reactions energy is released but not destroyed and in endothermic energy is absorbed but not created. It's just a transfer of energy. Some cluses to chemical reactions include gas formatioin, solid formation, color change, and energy change. An example of a chemical reaction is rusty nails the element of iron in the steal reacts with the oxygen in the air creation rust. This is a chemical reaction.

In conclusion neuclear reactions have a much greater amount of energy released than chemical reactions.

Utah Educatioin Network
Chemical reactions- http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/curr/science/sciber00/8th/matter/sciber/chemtype.htm

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory:
Neuclear Fission- http://www.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/14/1.html
Neuclear Fusion- http://www.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/14/2.html