Q. 5.71 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

Where does fusion occur naturally? $(5.6)$

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

     There are several political, social, environmental, and ethical concerns in using the energy released by nuclear fusion to generate power, just as there are with nuclear fission.

Step 1: Introduction

     In stars like our sun, fusion events occur spontaneously when two hydrogen nuclei fuse together at high temperatures and pressure to generate a helium nucleus.

     Light, infrared radiation, and ultra violet radiation are examples of electromagnetic radiation that is released and subsequently travels through space.

Step 2: Root map

Step 3: Explanation

Nuclear fusion reactions take place in stars like our Sun in a variety of ways.

When the nucleus of a hydrogen-$2$ atom (or deuterium) collides with the nucleus of a hydrogen-$3$ atom (or tritium), a helium-$4$ nucleus is formed, and a neutron is produced.

Step 4: Conclusion

${}_1{}^2\mathrm{H}+{}_1{}^3\mathrm{H}\to {}_2{}^4\mathrm{He}+{}_0{}^1\mathrm{n}+\mathrm{energy}$

Electromagnetic radiation is used to liberate energy.

There are several political, social, environmental, and ethical concerns in using the energy released by nuclear fusion to generate power, just as there are with nuclear fission.