Question

Two lithium ${\text{Li}}^6$ nuclei in a lithium vapour at room temperature do not combine to form a carbon ${\text{C}}^{12}$ nucleus because

• A. A lithium nucleus is more lightly bound than a carbon nucleus
• B. Carbon nucleus is an unstable particle
• C. It is not energetically favourable
• D. Coulomb repulsion does not allow the nuclei to come very close

Answer 1

The correct option is D Coulomb repulsion does not allow the nuclei to come very close

Fusion of two nuclei generally takes place at very high temperature, (or) of moderately high temperature with high pressure.
As, nuclear force is attractive in very short range only.
At room temperature, their kinetic energy is low and the coulombic repulsive force does not allow them to come very close.

<!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> Hence, $\left(D\right)$ is the correct answer.