Which best explains why nuclear reactions release more energy than chemical reactions?
The forces holding the nucleus together are much stronger than the forces binding electrons to atoms.
Protons have a much higher mass and energy than either neutrons or electrons.
During a chemical reaction, some of the mass of the reactants is converted to energy.
In nuclear reactions, all neutrons are converted to energy.
I think the best answer is the first statement. The forces holding the nucleus together are much stronger than the forces binding electrons to atoms. Breaking the former bonds are releases more energy than breaking bonds in a chemical reaction.
