The correct distinction between a nuclear reaction and a chemical reaction is:
In a nuclear reaction, the particles in the nucleus are changed, and one element is transformed into another. In a chemical reaction, electrons are exchanged from one or more substances to produce a different substance.
Thus, the main differences are:
- Nuclear reactions involve changes in the nucleus of atoms, which can result in the transformation of one element into another.
- Chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of electrons and do not change the nuclei of the involved atoms, leading to the formation of different compounds.