Answer the following questions:
a) Are the equations of nuclear reactions ‘balanced’ in the sense a chemical equation (e.g., 2H2 + O2→ 2 H2O) is? If not, in what sense are they balanced on both sides?
b) If both the number of protons and the number of neutrons are conserved in each nuclear reaction, in what way is mass converted into energy (or vice-versa) in a nuclear reaction?
c) A general impression exists that mass-energy interconversion takes place only in nuclear reaction and never in chemical reaction. This is strictly speaking, incorrect. Explain.

Explanation

In a balanced chemical reaction, the number of atoms on either side of the equation is same. There is nearly no change in the original combination of the atoms. However in case of nuclear reactions, the elements are transmuted and number of atoms on either side of the reactions is no more necessarily conserved. And the number of protons and the number of neutrons are generally conserved.