In: Chemistry
which of following statement is true of nuclear fusion
a. the mass of the products is greater than the mass of the reactant, and energy is absorbed
b. the mass of the products is greater than the mass of the reactants, and energy is released
c. the mass of the products is less than the mass of the reactants and energy absorbed
d. the mass of the products is less than the mass of the reactants, and energy is released.
In nuclear fusion, two light nuclei are fused together to make a heaver nuclei. Lets look at the options and analyse each one
a.
the mass of the products is greater than the mass of the reactant, and energy is absorbed.
Verdict: False
Reason: The nuclei that re used for fusion are light nuclei which when combined leads to product having lower mass than reactants and energy is released in the process. Hence, it is false.
b.
the mass of the products is greater than the mass of the reactants, and energy is released.
Verdict: False
Reason: If the mass of the product is greater than reactant, we cannot have energy released according to the energy mass equivalence. Instead we will need enormous amount of energy to carry out such reaction where mass of the product is more.
c.
the mass of the products is less than the mass of the reactants, and energy is absorbed.
Verdict: False
Reason: If the of products is less then reactants, we should have some mass defect which should result in energy released.
d.
the mass of the products is less than the mass of the reactants, and energy is released.
Verdict: True
Reason: This is in accordance with what actually happens in nuclear fusion. When two light nuclei are fused, they result in a heavy nuclei that has lower mass than the sum of the light nuclei. Hence, energy is released. This is actually what drives the energy output of sun.
Hence, the correct statement is d).