What determines whether a nuclear reaction is exothermic or endothermic?
Correct answer: B. The Q. value of the reaction
- A. The change in atomic number
- B. The Q. value of the reaction
- C. The number of neutrons emitted
- D. The temperature of the nucleus
Explanation
The Q. value, the energy released or absorbed in a nuclear reaction, determines its nature. A positive Q. value indicates an exothermic reaction (energy released), while a negative Q. value indicates an endothermic reaction (energy absorbed).
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