The question gives us several reactions to consider. We need to identify the type of reaction that occurs in the core of a nuclear reactor in a nuclear power plant, which is known to be a nuclear fission reaction.
Let’s analyze the reactions provided:
1. [tex]\( \text{HCl} + \text{NaOH} \rightarrow \text{H}_2 \text{O} + \text{NaCl} \)[/tex]
- This reaction is a typical example of an acid-base neutralization reaction where hydrochloric acid (HCl) reacts with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to form water (H₂O) and sodium chloride (NaCl).
2. [tex]\( {}_{92}^{235} \text{U} + {}_0^1 \text{n} \rightarrow {}_{38}^{90} \text{Sr} + {}_{54}^{140} \text{Xe} + 3 {}_0^1 \text{n} \)[/tex]
- This reaction depicts a nuclear fission event where uranium-235 ([tex]\( ^{235} \text{U} \)[/tex]) absorbs a neutron ([tex]\( ^1 \text{n} \)[/tex]) and splits into strontium-90 ([tex]\( ^{90} \text{Sr} \)[/tex]) and xenon-140 ([tex]\( ^{140} \text{Xe} \)[/tex]), releasing three additional neutrons ([tex]\( ^1 \text{n} \)[/tex]). This is characteristic of a nuclear fission reaction, which occurs in the core of a nuclear reactor in a nuclear power plant.
3. [tex]\( {}_{92}^{255} \text{U} + a_a^1 \text{n} \rightarrow {}_{30}^{\infty} \text{Sr} + {}_{54}^{14} \text{Xe} + 31 3 \text{n} \)[/tex]
- This appears to be a nonsensical reaction, as the isotopic representations and coefficients do not make physical sense. The notation is inconsistent with standard nuclear reactions.
4. [tex]\( \text{C}_{10} \text{H}_8 + 12 \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 10 \text{CO}_2 + 4 \text{H}_2 \text{O} \)[/tex]
- This reaction is an example of combustion, where naphthalene ([tex]\( \text{C}_{10} \text{H}_8 \)[/tex]) combusts in the presence of oxygen ([tex]\( \text{O}_2 \)[/tex]) to produce carbon dioxide ([tex]\( \text{CO}_2 \)[/tex]) and water ([tex]\( \text{H}_2 \text{O} \)[/tex]). This type of reaction is not associated with nuclear reactors.
Having analyzed all the options, the reaction that correctly describes the process occurring in the core of a nuclear reactor in a nuclear power plant is:
[tex]\[ {}_{92}^{235} \text{U} + {}_0^1 \text{n} \rightarrow {}_{38}^{90} \text{Sr} + {}_{54}^{140} \text{Xe} + 3 {}_0^1 \text{n} \][/tex]
This reaction is an example of nuclear fission.
