Choose the correct statement. √ Progress: 1/8 For a nuclear chain reaction to release large amounts of energy, the number of neutrons emitted must increase. For a nuclear chain reaction to release large amounts of energy, the number of neutrons emitted must stay the same. For a nuclear chain reaction to release large amounts of energy, the number of neutrons emitted must decrease

The correct statement is: **For a nuclear chain reaction to release large amounts of energy, the number of neutrons emitted must increase.**<br /><br />A chain reaction is a process where the products of one reaction initiate further reactions. In a nuclear chain reaction, a neutron strikes a fissile nucleus (like Uranium-235), causing it to split (fission) and release energy and more neutrons. These newly released neutrons then go on to strike other fissile nuclei, causing them to fission and release even more neutrons, and so on. If the number of neutrons emitted in each fission event is greater than one, the reaction grows exponentially, releasing a large amount of energy. If the number of neutrons emitted stays the same or decreases, the reaction will either fizzle out or proceed at a constant, controlled rate, not releasing the massive energy associated with a nuclear explosion.<br />