What reactions occur in the sun?
Select all that apply.
A: Fusion Occurs
B: Helium is Consumed
C: Hydrogen is Consumed
D: Fission Occurs
The reactions that occur in the Sun are:
A: Fusion occurs (this is the main reaction)
C: Hydrogen is consumed
To determine which reactions occur in the sun, we need to understand the process of stellar nucleosynthesis, which is the process of synthesizing new atomic nuclei in stars. Here are the options presented:
A: Fusion Occurs
Fusion is the process in which lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. In the core of the sun, fusion reactions occur, specifically the fusion of hydrogen nuclei (protons) into helium nuclei. This reaction is known as the proton-proton chain reaction, which is the primary source of energy production in the sun. So, option A is correct.
B: Helium is Consumed
Since the primary fusion reaction in the sun is the conversion of hydrogen into helium, helium is not consumed in the process. Instead, helium is produced as a product of fusion reactions. Therefore, option B is incorrect.
C: Hydrogen is Consumed
As mentioned earlier, the core of the sun undergoes fusion reactions, which involve the conversion of hydrogen into helium. Therefore, hydrogen is indeed consumed during these reactions. So, option C is correct.
D: Fission Occurs
Fission is the process in which a heavy nucleus splits into two or more lighter nuclei. Fission reactions are not occurring in the core of the sun because the sun does not have a sufficient amount of heavy nuclei (like uranium or plutonium) required for fission. So, option D is incorrect.
To summarize, the correct answers are:
A: Fusion Occurs
C: Hydrogen is Consumed