Nuclear Energy

Unlike chemical transformations, which only involve electrons located on the periphery of an atom, nuclear transformations take place within the nucleus. These transformations result in a change in the number of protons and neutrons (nucleons), thus changing the nature of the element.

The nucleus of an atom contains enormous reserves of energy. When a reaction takes place in the nucleus, it is called a nuclear reaction. It is exothermic and releases very large amounts of energy. The resulting energy from nuclear transformations can be used for various applications, such as the production of electricity.