Question

Comparison of Fuels for Fusion, Fission and Combustion:

The sun produces energy via fusion. One of the fusion reactions that occurs in the sun is

411H→42He+201e

How much energy in joules is released by the fusion of 2.69 g of hydrogen-1?

Express your answer to three significant figures and include the appropriate units.

Answer 1

4 ¹₁H→⁴₂He+2⁰₁e

atomic mass of H-1 = 1.007825g

atomic mass of He-4 = 4.002602g

Hence from the above chemical equation it can be said that 4 X 1.007825g of H-1 form 4.002602g of He-4

OR 4 X 1.007825g of H-1 = 4.002602g of He-4

1g of H-1 wii form 4.002602/4 X 1.007825 g of He-4

2.6g of H-1 will form (4.002602/4 X 1.007825) X 2.6g  of He-4

mass of He-4 formed = 2.58149g of He-4

Energy released = mC²

m = mass defect in Kg

m = 2.6 - 2.58149 = 0.01851g = 0.00001851Kg

E = 0.00001851Kg X (299,792,458 ms^-2 )² = 1663595835841.8J = 1.66 X 10¹²J