Which of the following BEST describes what occurs in a fusion reaction?
a
Electrons are shared between the nuclei.
b
A chemical reaction occurs between the nuclei.
c
A single nucleus divides into two or more nuclei and gives off energy.
d
Two low mass nuclei are joined to form one nucleus and gives off energy.
d
Two low mass nuclei are joined to form one nucleus and gives off energy.
The correct answer is d: Two low mass nuclei are joined to form one nucleus and gives off energy.
The best description of what occurs in a fusion reaction is option "d": Two low mass nuclei are joined to form one nucleus and give off energy.
Fusion is a nuclear reaction in which two atomic nuclei come together to form a heavier nucleus. This process releases a tremendous amount of energy. It is important to note that fusion reactions happen at extremely high temperatures and pressures, typically found in the core of stars or in man-made devices called fusion reactors.
To understand why option "d" is the correct answer, you can consider the process of nuclear fusion. In a fusion reaction, two low mass nuclei, such as hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium), combine to form a heavier nucleus, in this case, helium. During this process, some of the mass is converted into energy according to Einstein's famous equation, E=mc². The released energy is what powers the Sun and other stars.
To arrive at option "d" as the correct choice, you could have eliminated the other options as follows:
Option "a": Electrons are shared between the nuclei. This statement refers to electron sharing in a chemical bond, which is not related to fusion reactions.
Option "b": A chemical reaction occurs between the nuclei. Fusion reactions are not classified as chemical reactions because they involve changes at the atomic or nuclear level, not just the rearrangement of electrons.
Option "c": A single nucleus divides into two or more nuclei and gives off energy. This process is called nuclear fission, not fusion. In nuclear fission, a heavy nucleus splits into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing energy in the process.
In summary, fusion reactions involve the joining of two low mass nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a significant amount of energy.