Why would splitting a atom cause a nuclear reaction?

Answer 1

Splitting the nucleus of an atom doesn't cause a nuclear reaction. A nuclear reaction is caused by the successive, and exponential, splitting of atoms.
When an atom is split, the bonds that hold neutrons and protons together break releasing a relatively large amount of energy in comparison to the size of the atom itself. when this happens the particles that have split apart move on to split other atoms. This chain reaction creates a large amount of energy, and is called a Nuclear because the word nuclear means "of the nucleus."

Answer 2

A nuclear reaction is a change to the atom's nucleus. Splitting an atom is changing the nucleus, therefore, it's a nuclear reaction.

Splitting an atom is not a cause of a nuclear reaction. It is the act of a nuclear reaction. The cause of nuclear reactions is almost always instability inside the nucleus of the atom. Atoms try to exist in a stable state, which is why we have reactions, and charges, etc. The atoms are trying to stabilize themselves.

Answer 3

Splitting the nucleus of an atom IS cause a nuclear reaction: radioactive decay is a nuclear reaction and is splitting the nucleus (be it an alpha particle, which corresponds to a helium nucleus; or a beta+ or beta- emission, which changes the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus). "Nuclear reaction" means that the nucleus of the interested atom is changed. Fission is another nuclear reaction, in which a heavy and unstable nucleus is splitted in two medium sized nuclei (different elements) and surplus energy is released. Fusion is a nuclear reaction, in which two small nuclei merge forming another heavyer nucleus (plus some elementary particle, usually).

Answer 4

Atoms are held together by extremely high energy. That e=MC squared thing indicates the energy in an atom is equal to its mass times the speed of light squared. That is a huge amount for a tiny package like an atom. When the atom is split, some of the force holding it together is shoved into other nearby atoms and the force is enough to start these atoms splitting which in turn releases more energy, which causes more atoms to split and so on and so on.

Answer 5

When you split an atom, you release the energy in the bonds that held the nucleus together. The resulting pieces go flying apart, and hit other atoms. If those other atoms are unstable enough, they, too, will split, and the resulting pieces will hit yet more atoms. This will continue until no more fissible matter (atoms able to undergoe fission) remains in proximity.

Answer 6

b/c when you split an atom, you split the nucleus of the atom which is comprised of neutrons and protons (subatomic particles) any reaction from stimuli to the nucleus is a nuclear reaction. The connotation of the term "nuclear reaction" has come from the negative radiation that came from the first atom bombs that were made from splitting uranium atoms.

Answer 7

splitting an atom is the basis of all nuclear reactions because splitting an atom means splitting the nucleus of the atom into two parts. this split releases neutrons which then split more nucleii around them which continues the reaction.

Answer 8

Because splitting an atom is splitting the nucleus.

Answer 9

The binding energy within the atom is released. The energy release can be very large. The released energy automatically splits other atoms, etc, etc.

Answer 10

the atom of radioactive elements release electrons and change their atomic number and causes nuclear reaction