Question

The overall hydrogen burning reaction in stars can be represented as the conversion of four protons to one α particle. Part A Use the data for the mass of H−1 and He−4 to calculate the energy released by this process. ANSWER NEEDS TO BE IN J/Mol of reactant

Answer 1

The fusion reaction in stars is given as follows:

4_1^1{H}2^{He}+ {2}}_0^{ + 1}e411​H→24​He+20+1​e

Mass on the reactant side:

4times left[ {(1 times .1.67262. times .{10}^{ - 27}) + (0 times .1.67493 .times {10}^{ - 27}) + (1 times 9.10939 times {10}^{ - 31})} right]

= 6.69874.times {10^{ - 27}{kg}4×[(1×1.67262×10−27)+(0×1.67493×10−27)+(1×9.10939×10−31)]

                   =6.69874×10−27kg

convert kg into joule by multiplying the value of 1000.

                  = 6.69874×10−24 j/mol    

Mass on the product side:

(2 times .1.67262 times {10^{ - 27}) + (2 times.1.67493times {10^{ - 27}) + (4times 9.10939 times {10^{ - 31}) = 6.69412 times {10^{ - 27}{kg}}(2×1.67262×10−27)+(2×1.67493×10−27)+(4×9.10939×10−31)

          =6.69412×10−27kg

convert kg into joule by multiplying the value of 1000.

          =6.69412×10−24 j/mol

There are 4 moles of 1^1{H}11​H atoms on the reactant side. One 1^1{H}1^1​Hatom contains 1 proton and 1 electron. Hence, the net mass on the reactant side is calculated as above. On the product side, 1 mole of 2^4{He}2^4​He atoms is produced and 2 moles of positron are produced. Hence, the net mass is calculated as above.

Nuclear reactions involve atomic nuclei undergoing changes. The difference of a nuclear reaction with respect to a chemical reaction is that usually there is transfer of subatomic particles, in the place of electrons, among the reactants (or emission from a single reactant), thus giving the products.

A broad classification of the nuclear reactions gives the following types:

Nuclear fission: It involves the splitting of a heavy nucleus into lighter nuclei. This is mostly initiated by bombardment of the nucleus with subatomic particles such as neutrons or lighter nuclei like the

{alpha }{ - }{{particle}}α−particle.