Question

Give two examples of nuclear fusion.

Answer 1

Nuclear fusion is the process in which two light nuclei combine to form a heavy nucleus. In this process also, huge amount of energy is released.

Examples of nuclear fusion:

(a) When two deuterium nuclei (${}_1^{2}H$) fuse, 3.3 MeV energy is released and the nucleus of Helium isotope (${}_2^{3}He$) is formed along with one neutron (${}_0^{1}n$).
${}_1^{2}H+{}_1^{2}H\to {}_2^{3}He+{}_1^{1}H+{}_0^{1}n+3.3MeV$

(b) When a helium isotope $Z_2^{3}He$ and deuterium nuclei ${(}_1^{2}H$) fuse, $18.3MeV$ energy is released and helium and hydrogen nucleus are formed.
${}_2^{3}He+{}_1^{2}H\to {}_2^{4}He+{}_1^{1}H+18.3MeV$