Do Nuclear Reactions Create New Elements?

AI Thread Summary
Nuclear reactions can create new elements by altering the number of protons in the nucleus, which distinguishes them from chemical reactions where the elements remain unchanged. In a nuclear reaction, the transformation leads to different proton and neutron counts, resulting in a new element. The chemical identity of an element is defined by its proton number, while variations in neutron numbers affect its atomic mass. Therefore, any nuclear reaction that modifies the proton count effectively changes the element itself. This fundamental difference highlights the unique nature of nuclear reactions compared to chemical ones.
mike2007
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In chemical reactions the individual elements present in the reactants are the same as in the products of the reaction. Is this true for nuclear reaction?

My attempt
Nuclear reactants produce new products, and a new element can be made. This means that a new element with different proton and neutron numbers is formed in a nuclear reaction
 
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mike2007 said:
In chemical reactions the individual elements present in the reactants are the same as in the products of the reaction. Is this true for nuclear reaction?

My attempt
Nuclear reactants produce new products, and a new element can be made. This means that a new element with different proton and neutron numbers is formed in a nuclear reaction
More or less correct.

The 'chemical' nature of an element is determined by the number of protons. The atomic (or nuclear) mass can vary with the number of neutrons, but chemically it is still the same element.

Nuclear reactions that change the number of protons will change the element.
 

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