Nuclear reactions can be written out in equation form with information about the nuclei that take place in the fusion reaction and the nuclei that are produced.
In two sentences, explain how you would identify the reaction as fusion, and give two different criteria.
One way to identify the reaction as fusion is by examining the atomic number of the nuclei involved. If the atomic number of the nuclei undergoing the reaction is smaller than the atomic number of the nuclei produced, it indicates a fusion reaction. Another criterion is the release of large amounts of energy, as fusion reactions are known for releasing vast amounts of energy due to the combining of atomic nuclei.
To identify a nuclear reaction as fusion, you should look for the combination of light atomic nuclei merging to form a heavier nucleus while releasing energy. Two criteria to consider are the presence of hydrogen isotopes (such as deuterium or tritium) as reactants and the formation of a helium isotope (such as helium-4) as a product in the reaction equation.
To identify a reaction as fusion, you can look for two criteria. First, the combined mass of the nuclei involved in the reaction should be larger than the mass of the resulting nuclei. Second, the atomic number of the resulting nuclei should be larger than the atomic number of the original nuclei.
