Question

A nuclear reaction is represented by the equation:
${}_1{}^2\mathrm{H}+{}_1{}^2\mathrm{H}\underset{}{\overset{}{\to }}{}_2{}^3\mathrm{He}+xc+E$

(a) Name the process represented by this equation and describe what happens during this reaction.
(b) Identify the particle c and the number x of such particles produced in the reaction.
(c) What does E represent?
(d) State two conditions under which such a reaction takes place.
(e) What type of nuclear bomb is based on similar reactions?

Answer 1

(a) The process represents nuclear fusion.
In this process, when two smaller nuclei of deuterium are heated to an extremely high temperature under extremely high pressure, a heavy nucleus of helium and a neutron are emitted. A tremendous amount of energy is also liberated.
(b) Particle c is a neutron and x is equal to 1.
(c) E represents the tremendous amount of energy liberated.
(d) The two conditions are given below.
(i) Millions of degrees of temperature
(ii) Millions of pascals of pressure
(e) A hydrogen bomb is based on similar reactions.