Nature develops dynamically, living and inert matter continuously undergoes processes of transformation. The most important transformations are those that affect the composition of a substance. The formation of rocks, chemical erosion, the birth of a planet, or the respiration of mammals are all observable processes that involve changes in other substances. Despite their differences, they all have something in common: changes at the molecular level.

During chemical reactions, elements do not lose their identity. These reactions involve only the electrons in the outer shell of the atoms, while the nuclei of the atoms remain unchanged.
The reactivity of an element to a chemical reaction depends on the oxidation state of the element. In ordinary chemical reactions, Ra and Ra 2+ behave completely differently.
Different isotopes of an element have almost the same chemical reactivity.
The rate of a chemical reaction is highly dependent on temperature and pressure.
The chemical reaction can be reversed.
Chemical reactions are accompanied by relatively small changes in energy.

Nuclear reactions

During nuclear reactions, the nuclei of atoms undergo changes and, therefore, new elements are formed as a result.
The reactivity of an element to a nuclear reaction is practically independent of the oxidation state of the element. For example, Ra or Ra 2+ ions in Ka C 2 behave in a similar way in nuclear reactions.
In nuclear reactions, isotopes behave completely differently. For example, U-235 fissions quietly and easily, but U-238 does not.
The rate of nuclear reaction does not depend on temperature and pressure.
A nuclear reaction cannot be undone.
Nuclear reactions are accompanied by large changes in energy.

Difference between chemical and nuclear energy

Potential energy that can be converted into other forms, primarily heat and light, when bonds are formed.
The stronger the bond, the greater the chemical energy converted.

Nuclear energy does not involve the formation of chemical bonds (which are caused by the interaction of electrons)
Can be converted into other forms when a change occurs in the nucleus of the atom.

Nuclear change occurs in all three main processes:

Nuclear fission
The joining of two nuclei to form a new kernel.
Release of high energy electromagnetic radiation (gamma radiation), creating a more stable version of the same nucleus.

Energy conversion comparison

The amount of chemical energy released (or converted) in a chemical explosion is:

5kJ for every gram of TNT
Amount of nuclear energy in a released atomic bomb: 100 million kJ for every gram of uranium or plutonium

One of the main differences between nuclear and chemical reactions has to do with how a reaction occurs in an atom. While a nuclear reaction occurs in the nucleus of an atom, the electrons in the atom are responsible for the chemical reaction that occurs.

Chemical reactions include:

Transfers
Losses
Gain
Electron sharing

According to the atomic theory, matter is explained by rearrangement to give new molecules. The substances involved in a chemical reaction and the proportions in which they are formed are expressed in the corresponding chemical equations that form the basis for performing various types of chemical calculations.

Nuclear reactions are responsible for the decay of the nucleus and have nothing to do with electrons. When a nucleus decays, it can move on to another atom due to the loss of neutrons or protons. In a nuclear reaction, protons and neutrons interact within the nucleus. In chemical reactions, electrons react outside the nucleus.

The result of a nuclear reaction can be called any fission or fusion. A new element is formed due to the action of a proton or neutron. As a result of a chemical reaction, a substance is changed into one or more substances due to the action of electrons. A new element is formed due to the action of a proton or neutron.

When comparing energy, a chemical reaction involves only a low energy change, whereas a nuclear reaction has a very high energy change. In a nuclear reaction, the energy changes are of magnitude 10^8 kJ. This is 10 - 10^3 kJ/mol in chemical reactions.

While some elements are transformed into others in the nuclear, the number of atoms remains unchanged in the chemical. In a nuclear reaction, isotopes react differently. But as a result of a chemical reaction, isotopes also react.

Although a nuclear reaction does not depend on chemical compounds, a chemical reaction is highly dependent on chemical compounds.

Resume

Chemical reactions involve the transfer, loss, gain and sharing of electrons without involving the nucleus in the process. Nuclear reactions involve the decay of a nucleus and have nothing to do with electrons.
In a nuclear reaction, protons and neutrons react inside the nucleus; in chemical reactions, electrons interact outside the nucleus.
When comparing energies, a chemical reaction only uses a low energy change, whereas a nuclear reaction has a very high energy change.

As you know, the main engine of progress of human civilization is war. And many “hawks” justify the mass extermination of their own kind precisely by this. The issue has always been controversial, and the advent of nuclear weapons irrevocably turned the plus sign into a minus sign. Indeed, why do we need progress that will ultimately destroy us? Moreover, even in this suicidal matter, the man showed his characteristic energy and ingenuity. Not only did he come up with a weapon of mass destruction (the atomic bomb) - he continued to improve it in order to kill himself quickly, efficiently and reliably. An example of such active activity can be a very quick leap to the next stage in the development of atomic military technologies - the creation of thermonuclear weapons (hydrogen bomb). But let’s leave aside the moral aspect of these suicidal tendencies and move on to the question posed in the title of the article - what is the difference between an atomic bomb and a hydrogen one?

A little history

There, beyond the ocean

As you know, Americans are the most enterprising people in the world. They have a great flair for everything new. Therefore, one should not be surprised that the first atomic bomb appeared in this part of the world. Let's give a little historical background.

The first stage on the path to the creation of an atomic bomb can be considered the experiment of two German scientists O. Hahn and F. Strassmann to split the uranium atom into two parts. This, so to speak, still unconscious step was taken in 1938.

In 1939, Nobel laureate Frenchman F. Joliot-Curie proved that atomic fission leads to a chain reaction accompanied by a powerful release of energy.

The genius of theoretical physics A. Einstein signed a letter (in 1939) addressed to the President of the United States, initiated by another atomic physicist L. Szilard. As a result, even before the start of World War II, the United States decided to begin developing atomic weapons.

The first test of the new weapon was carried out on July 16, 1945 in northern New Mexico.

Less than a month later, two atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August 6 and 9, 1945). Humanity had entered a new era - now it was capable of destroying itself in a few hours.

The Americans fell into real euphoria from the results of the total and lightning destruction of peaceful cities. Staff theorists of the US Armed Forces immediately began to draw up grandiose plans consisting in completely erasing 1/6 of the world - the Soviet Union - from the face of the Earth.

Caught up and overtook

The Soviet Union also did not sit idly by. True, there was some lag caused by the resolution of more urgent matters - the Second World War was going on, the main burden of which lay on the country of the Soviets. However, the Americans did not wear the leader's yellow jersey for long. Already on August 29, 1949, at a test site near the city of Semipalatinsk, a Soviet-style atomic charge was tested for the first time, created at the right time by Russian nuclear scientists under the leadership of Academician Kurchatov.

And while the frustrated “hawks” from the Pentagon were revising their ambitious plans to destroy the “stronghold of the world revolution,” the Kremlin launched a preemptive strike - in 1953, on August 12, tests of a new type of nuclear weapon were carried out. There, in the area of Semipalatinsk, the world’s first hydrogen bomb, codenamed “Product RDS-6s”, was detonated. This event caused real hysteria and panic not only on Capitol Hill, but also in all 50 states of the “stronghold of world democracy.” Why? What is the difference between an atomic bomb and a hydrogen bomb that horrified the world's superpower? We will answer immediately. The hydrogen bomb is much more powerful than the atomic bomb. Moreover, it costs significantly less than an equivalent atomic sample. Let's look at these differences in more detail.

What is an atomic bomb?

The principle of operation of an atomic bomb is based on the use of energy resulting from an increasing chain reaction caused by the fission (splitting) of heavy nuclei of plutonium or uranium-235 with the subsequent formation of lighter nuclei.

The process itself is called single-phase, and it proceeds as follows:

After the charge detonates, the substance inside the bomb (isotopes of uranium or plutonium) enters the decay stage and begins to capture neutrons.

The process of decay is growing like an avalanche. The splitting of one atom leads to the decay of several. A chain reaction occurs, leading to the destruction of all the atoms in the bomb.

A nuclear reaction begins. The entire bomb charge turns into a single whole, and its mass passes its critical mark. Moreover, all this bacchanalia does not last very long and is accompanied by the instant release of a huge amount of energy, which ultimately leads to a grand explosion.

By the way, this feature of a single-phase atomic charge - quickly gaining a critical mass - does not allow an infinite increase in the power of this type of ammunition. The charge can be hundreds of kilotons in power, but the closer it is to the megaton level, the less effective it is. It simply will not have time to completely split: an explosion will occur and part of the charge will remain unused - it will be scattered by the explosion. This problem was solved in the next type of atomic weapon - a hydrogen bomb, which is also called a thermonuclear bomb.

What is a hydrogen bomb?

In a hydrogen bomb, a slightly different process of energy release occurs. It is based on working with hydrogen isotopes - deuterium (heavy hydrogen) and tritium. The process itself is divided into two parts or, as they say, is two-phase.

The first phase is when the main energy supplier is the fission reaction of heavy lithium deuteride nuclei into helium and tritium.

The second phase - thermonuclear fusion based on helium and tritium is launched, which leads to instant heating inside the warhead and, as a result, causes a powerful explosion.

Thanks to the two-phase system, the thermonuclear charge can be of any power.

Note. The description of the processes occurring in an atomic and hydrogen bomb is far from complete and the most primitive. It is provided only to provide a general understanding of the differences between these two weapons.

Comparison

What's in the bottom line?

Any schoolchild knows about the damaging factors of an atomic explosion:

light radiation;
shock wave;
electromagnetic pulse (EMP);
penetrating radiation;
radioactive contamination.

The same can be said about a thermonuclear explosion. But!!! The power and consequences of a thermonuclear explosion are much stronger than an atomic one. Let us give two well-known examples.

“Baby”: black humor or cynicism of Uncle Sam?

The atomic bomb (codenamed “Little Boy”) dropped on Hiroshima by the Americans is still considered the “benchmark” for atomic charges. Its power was approximately 13 to 18 kilotons, and the explosion was ideal in all respects. Later, more powerful charges were tested more than once, but not much (20-23 kilotons). However, they showed results that were little higher than the achievements of “Kid”, and then stopped altogether. A cheaper and stronger “hydrogen sister” appeared, and there was no longer any point in improving atomic charges. This is what happened “at the exit” after the explosion of “Malysh”:

The nuclear mushroom reached a height of 12 km, the diameter of the “cap” was about 5 km.
The instantaneous release of energy during a nuclear reaction caused a temperature at the epicenter of the explosion of 4000 ° C.
Fireball: diameter about 300 meters.
The shock wave knocked out glass at a distance of up to 19 km, and was felt much further.
About 140 thousand people died at once.

Queen of all queens

The consequences of the explosion of the most powerful hydrogen bomb tested to date, the so-called Tsar Bomb (code name AN602), exceeded all previous explosions of atomic charges (not thermonuclear ones) combined. The bomb was Soviet, with a yield of 50 megatons. Its tests were carried out on October 30, 1961 in the Novaya Zemlya region.

The nuclear mushroom grew 67 km in height and the diameter of the upper “cap” was approximately 95 km.
The light radiation hit a distance of up to 100 km, causing third-degree burns.
The ball of fire, or ball, grew to 4.6 km (radius).
The sound wave was recorded at a distance of 800 km.
The seismic wave circled the planet three times.
The shock wave was felt at a distance of up to 1000 km.
The electromagnetic pulse created powerful interference for 40 minutes several hundred kilometers from the epicenter of the explosion.

One can only imagine what would have happened to Hiroshima if such a monster had been dropped on it. Most likely, not only the city would disappear, but also the Land of the Rising Sun itself. Well, now let’s bring everything that we have said to a common denominator, that is, we will draw up a comparative table.

Table

Atomic bomb	Hydrogen bomb
The principle of operation of the bomb is based on the fission of uranium and plutonium nuclei, causing a progressive chain reaction, resulting in a powerful release of energy leading to an explosion. This process is called single-phase, or single-stage	The nuclear reaction follows a two-stage (two-phase) scheme and is based on hydrogen isotopes. First, the fission of heavy lithium deuteride nuclei occurs, then, without waiting for the end of fission, thermonuclear fusion begins with the participation of the resulting elements. Both processes are accompanied by a colossal release of energy and ultimately end in an explosion
Due to certain physical reasons (see above), the maximum power of an atomic charge fluctuates within 1 megaton	The power of a thermonuclear charge is almost unlimited. The more source material, the stronger the explosion will be
The process of creating an atomic charge is quite complicated and expensive.	The hydrogen bomb is much easier to manufacture and less expensive

So, we found out what the difference is between an atomic and a hydrogen bomb. Unfortunately, our little analysis only confirmed the thesis expressed at the beginning of the article: progress associated with the war took a disastrous path. Humanity has come to the brink of self-destruction. All that remains is to press the button. But let's not end the article on such a tragic note. We really hope that reason and the instinct of self-preservation will ultimately win and a peaceful future awaits us.

To answer the question accurately, you will have to seriously delve into such a branch of human knowledge as nuclear physics - and understand nuclear/thermonuclear reactions.

Isotopes

From the course of general chemistry, we remember that the matter around us consists of atoms of different “sorts”, and their “sort” determines exactly how they will behave in chemical reactions. Physics adds that this happens due to the fine structure of the atomic nucleus: inside the nucleus there are protons and neutrons that form it - and electrons constantly “rush” around in “orbits”. Protons provide a positive charge to the nucleus, and electrons provide a negative charge, compensating for it, which is why the atom is usually electrically neutral.

From a chemical point of view, the “function” of neutrons comes down to “dilute” the uniformity of nuclei of the same “type” with nuclei with slightly different masses, since only the charge of the nucleus will affect the chemical properties (through the number of electrons, due to which the atom can form chemical bonds with other atoms). From the point of view of physics, neutrons (like protons) participate in the preservation of atomic nuclei due to special and very powerful nuclear forces - otherwise the atomic nucleus would instantly fly apart due to the Coulomb repulsion of like-charged protons. It is neutrons that allow the existence of isotopes: nuclei with identical charges (that is, identical chemical properties), but different in mass.

It is important that it is impossible to create nuclei from protons/neutrons in an arbitrary manner: there are their “magic” combinations (in fact, there is no magic here, physicists have just agreed to call especially energetically favorable ensembles of neutrons/protons that way), which are incredibly stable - but “departing “From them, you can get radioactive nuclei that “fall apart” on their own (the further they are from the “magic” combinations, the more likely they are to decay over time).

Nucleosynthesis

A little higher it turned out that according to certain rules it is possible to “construct” atomic nuclei, creating increasingly heavier ones from protons/neutrons. The subtlety is that this process is energetically favorable (that is, it proceeds with the release of energy) only up to a certain limit, after which it is necessary to spend more energy to create increasingly heavier nuclei than is released during their synthesis, and they themselves become very unstable. In nature, this process (nucleosynthesis) occurs in stars, where monstrous pressures and temperatures “compact” the nuclei so tightly that some of them merge, forming heavier ones and releasing energy due to which the star shines.

The conventional “efficiency limit” passes through the synthesis of iron nuclei: the synthesis of heavier nuclei is energy-consuming and iron ultimately “kills” the star, and heavier nuclei are formed either in trace quantities due to the capture of protons/neutrons, or en masse at the time of the death of the star in the form a catastrophic supernova explosion, when the fluxes of radiation reach truly monstrous values (at the moment of the explosion, a typical supernova emits as much light energy as our Sun over about a billion years of its existence!)

Nuclear/thermonuclear reactions

So, now we can give the necessary definitions:

Thermonuclear reaction (also known as fusion reaction or in English nuclear fusion) is a type of nuclear reaction in which lighter atomic nuclei, due to the energy of their kinetic motion (heat), merge into heavier ones.

Nuclear fission reaction (also known as decay reaction or in English nuclear fission) is a type of nuclear reaction where the nuclei of atoms spontaneously or under the influence of particles “outside” disintegrate into fragments (usually two or three lighter particles or nuclei).

In principle, in both types of reactions energy is released: in the first case, due to the direct energy benefit of the process, and in the second, the energy that was spent during the “death” of the star on the emergence of atoms heavier than iron is released.

The essential difference between nuclear and thermonuclear bombs

A nuclear (atomic) bomb is usually called an explosive device where the main share of the energy released during the explosion is released due to the nuclear fission reaction, and a hydrogen (thermonuclear) bomb is one where the main share of the energy is produced through a thermonuclear fusion reaction. An atomic bomb is a synonym for a nuclear bomb, a hydrogen bomb is a synonym for a thermonuclear bomb.

What is the difference between nuclear weapons and atomic weapons?

The issue is resolved and closed.

Best answer

Answers

1 0

7 (63206) 6 36 138 9 years old

In theory, these are the same thing, but if you need a difference, then:

atomic weapons:

* Ammunition, often called atomic, during the explosion of which only one type of nuclear reaction occurs - the fission of heavy elements (uranium or plutonium) with the formation of lighter ones. This type of ammunition is often referred to as single-phase or single-stage.

nuclear weapons:
* Thermonuclear weapons (in common parlance, often hydrogen weapons), the main energy release of which occurs during a thermonuclear reaction - the synthesis of heavy elements from lighter ones. A single-phase nuclear charge is used as a fuse for a thermonuclear reaction - its explosion creates a temperature of several million degrees at which the fusion reaction begins. The starting material for synthesis is usually a mixture of two isotopes of hydrogen - deuterium and tritium (in the first samples of thermonuclear explosive devices a compound of deuterium and lithium was also used). This is the so-called two-phase, or two-stage type. The fusion reaction is characterized by a colossal energy release, so hydrogen weapons exceed atomic weapons in power by approximately an order of magnitude.

0 0

6 (11330) 7 41 100 9 years old

Nuclear and atomic are two different things... I won’t talk about the differences, because... I'm afraid of making a mistake and not telling the truth

Atomic bomb:
It is based on a chain reaction of fission of nuclei of heavy isotopes, mainly plutonium and uranium. In thermonuclear weapons, the stages of fission and fusion occur alternately. The number of stages (stages) determines the final power of the bomb. In this case, a tremendous amount of energy is released, and a whole set of damaging factors is formed. The horror story of the early 20th century - chemical weapons - was left sadly undeservedly forgotten on the sidelines, it was replaced by a new scarecrow for the masses.

Nuclear bomb:
explosive weapons based on the use of nuclear energy released during a nuclear chain reaction of the fission of heavy nuclei or a thermonuclear fusion reaction of light nuclei. Refers to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) along with biological and chemical ones.

0 0

6 (10599) 3 23 63 9 years old

nuclear weapons:
* Thermonuclear weapons (in common parlance often - hydrogen weapons)

Here I will add that there are differences between nuclear and thermonuclear. thermonuclear is several times more powerful.

and the differences between nuclear and atomic are the chain reaction. like this:
atomic:

fission of heavy elements (uranium or plutonium) to form lighter ones

synthesis of heavy elements from lighter ones

p.s. I could be wrong about something. but this was the last topic in physics. and it seems like I still remember something)

0 0

7 (25794) 3 9 38 9 years old

"Ammunition, often called atomic, upon explosion of which only one type of nuclear reaction occurs - the fission of heavy elements (uranium or plutonium) with the formation of lighter ones." (c) wiki

Those. Nuclear weapons can be uranium-plutonium, and thermonuclear along with deuterium-tritium.
And atomic only fission of uranium/plutonium.
Although if someone is close to the explosion site, it won’t make much difference to him.

principle of linguistics g))))
these are synonyms
Nuclear weapons are based on an uncontrolled chain reaction of nuclear fission. There are two main schemes: “cannon” and explosive implosion. The “cannon” design is typical for the most primitive models of first-generation nuclear weapons, as well as artillery and small arms nuclear weapons that have restrictions on the caliber of the weapon. Its essence lies in “shooting” two blocks of fissile matter of subcritical mass towards each other. This detonation method is only possible in uranium ammunition, since plutonium has a higher detonation speed. The second scheme involves detonating the bomb's combat core in such a way that the compression is directed to the focal point (there may be one, or there may be several). This is achieved by lining the combat core with explosive charges and having a precision detonation control circuit.

The power of a nuclear charge operating exclusively on the principles of fission of heavy elements is limited to hundreds of kilotons. Creating a more powerful charge based only on nuclear fission, if possible, is extremely difficult: increasing the mass of the fissile substance does not solve the problem, since the explosion that has begun disperses part of the fuel, it does not have time to react completely and, thus, turns out to be useless, only increasing mass of ammunition and radioactive damage to the area. The most powerful munition in the world, based only on nuclear fission, was tested in the USA on November 15, 1952, the explosion power was 500 kt.

Wad not really. Atomic bomb is a common name. Atomic weapons are divided into nuclear and thermonuclear. Nuclear weapons use the principle of fission of heavy nuclei (uranium and plutonium isotopes), and thermonuclear weapons use the synthesis of light atoms into heavy ones (hydrogen isotopes -> helium). A neutron bomb is a type of nuclear weapon in which the main part of the explosion energy is emitted in the form of a stream of fast neutrons .

How is it Love, peace and no war?)

There's no point. They are fighting for Territories on earth. Why nuclear contaminated land?
Nuclear weapons are for fear and no one will use them.
Now it’s a political war.

I don’t agree, people bring death, not weapons)

If Hitler had atomic weapons, the USSR would have atomic weapons.
Russians always have the last laugh.
Yes, there is, there is also a metro in Riga, a bunch of academic towns, oil, gas, a huge army, a rich and vibrant culture, there is work, everything is there in Latvia
because communism hasn’t taken off in our country.
This will not happen soon, just when nuclear weapons will be ancient and ineffective like gunpowder now

According to news reports, North Korea is threatening to test hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean. In response, President Trump is imposing new sanctions on individuals, companies and banks that do business with the country.

“I think this could be a hydrogen bomb test at an unprecedented level, perhaps over the Pacific region,” North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said this week during a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Rhee added that “it depends on our leader.”

Atomic and hydrogen bomb: differences

Hydrogen bombs or thermonuclear bombs are more powerful than atomic or fission bombs. The differences between hydrogen bombs and atomic bombs start at the atomic level.

Atomic bombs, like those used to devastate the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima during World War II, work by splitting the nucleus of an atom. When neutrons, or neutral particles, in a nucleus split, some enter the nuclei of neighboring atoms, splitting them apart as well. The result is a highly explosive chain reaction. According to the Union of Scientists, bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a yield of 15 kilotons and 20 kilotons.

In contrast, the first test of a thermonuclear weapon or hydrogen bomb in the United States in November 1952 resulted in an explosion of about 10,000 kilotons of TNT. Fusion bombs start with the same fission reaction that powers atomic bombs—but most of the uranium or plutonium in atomic bombs is not actually used. In a thermonuclear bomb, the extra step means more explosive power from the bomb.

First, the flammable explosion compresses a sphere of plutonium-239, a material that will then fission. Inside this pit of plutonium-239 is a chamber of hydrogen gas. The high temperatures and pressures created by the fission of plutonium-239 cause the hydrogen atoms to fuse together. This fusion process releases neutrons that return to plutonium-239, splitting more atoms and increasing the fission chain reaction.

Watch the video: Atomic and hydrogen bombs, which is more powerful? And what is their difference?

Nuclear testing

Governments around the world use global monitoring systems to detect nuclear tests as part of efforts to enforce the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. There are 183 parties to this treaty, but it is inoperative because key countries, including the United States, have not ratified it.

Since 1996, Pakistan, India and North Korea have conducted nuclear tests. However, the treaty introduced a seismic monitoring system that can distinguish a nuclear explosion from an earthquake. The international monitoring system also includes stations that detect infrasound, a sound whose frequency is too low for human ears to detect explosions. Eighty radionuclide monitoring stations around the world measure fallout, which can prove that an explosion detected by other monitoring systems was in fact nuclear.