Question

Calculate the Q-values of the following fusion reactions :-

(a) `""_1^2H + ""_1^2H → ""_1^3H + ""_1^1H`

(b) `""_1^2H + ""_1^2H → ""_2^3H + n`

(c) `""_1^2H + ""_1^3H → _2^4H + n`.

Atomic masses are `m(""_1^2H) = 2.014102 "u", m(""_1^3H) = 3.016049 "u", m(""_2^3He) = 3.016029 "u", m(""_2^4He) = 4.002603 "u".`

(Use Mass of proton m_p = 1.007276 u, Mass of `""_1^1"H"` atom = 1.007825 u, Mass of neutron m_n = 1.008665 u, Mass of electron = 0.0005486 u ≈ 511 keV/c²,1 u = 931 MeV/c².)

Answer 1

(a) `Q = [2 xx m""_1^2"H" - (m(""_3^3"H") + m(""_1^3"H"))]c^2`

 `= (4.028204 - 4.023874) xx 931` MeV

 = 4.05 MeV

(b) `Q = [2 xx m ""_1^2"H" - (m_2^3"H" + m_n)]c^2`

`= [4.028204 - 4.024694] xx 931`

`= 0.00351 xx 931`

= 3.25 MeV

(c) `Q = [m   ""_1^2"H" + m  _1^3"H" - m   _1^4"He"- m_n)]c^2`

`= (2.014102 + 3.016049 - 4.002603 - 1.008665) xx 931`

= 17.57 MeV