Question

Explain what is nuclear fusion and give an example. Write down the formulae for energy generated in these processes.

Answer 1

The heavier nucleus will have higher EB/A than the reactants. The mass of the product nucleus will therefore be lower than the total mass of the reactants, and energy of the order of MeV will be released in the process. This process wherein two nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus accompanied by a release of nuclear energy is called nuclear fusion.

Example: The D-T reaction, being used in experimental fusion reactors, fuses deuteron and triton nuclei at temperatures of about 10⁸ K.

\[\ce{\underset{\text{(deuteron)}}{_1^2D} + \underset{\text{(triton)}}{_1^3T}->\underset{\text{(helium nucleus)}}{_2^4He} + \underset{\text{(neutron)}}{_0^1n} + 17.6 MeV}\]