![]() An important difference between chemical and nuclear reactions is that there can neither be a loss nor a gain of mass during a chemical reaction however, mass can be converted into energy in a nuclear reaction. Examples of nuclear characteristics include the tendency of a nucleus to split apart or fission, the ability of a nucleus to absorb a neutron, and radioactive decay where the nucleus emits a particle from the nucleus. Examples of chemical characteristics include the tendency of elements to combine with other elements (e.g., hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water), the ability to conduct electricity, and the ability to undergo chemical reactions, such as oxidation (e.g., iron and oxygen combine to form iron oxide or rust). Interactions with an atom’s electrons determine an element’s chemical characteristics whereas interactions with an atom’s nucleus determine an element’s nuclear characteristics. The number of protons in an atom’s nucleus identifies the atomic element.Ītoms have a densely packed core-or nucleus-comprised of electrically neutral neutrons and positively charged protons (except for hydrogen whose nucleus contains only a single proton) that is surrounded by rings or shells of orbiting, negatively charged electrons as illustrated in Figure 13.1. There are more than 110 known chemical elements, each of which cannot be broken down further without changing its chemical properties. When these particles (primarily protons, neutrons, and electrons) are combined to form atoms, they are called elements. All matter in the observable universe is made up of various combinations of separate and distinct particles. Matter is the material substance in the universe that occupies space and has mass. ![]() The fundamentals of nuclear weapons design and function include atomic structure, radioactive decay, fissile material, and nuclear reactions. This chapter provides an overview of nuclear physics, basic nuclear weapon designs, and the effects of nuclear detonations. All current nuclear weapons use the basic approach of producing a very large number of fission events through a multiplying chain reaction and releasing a huge amount of nuclear energy in a very short period of time. The splitting apart of atoms, called fission, and joining together of atoms, called fusion, are nuclear reactions that can be induced in the nucleus. Nuclear weapons depend on the potential energy that can be released from the nuclei of atoms.
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