The creation of energy by joining the nuclei of two hydrogen atoms to form helium is called

The creation of energy by joining the nuclei of two hydrogen atoms to form helium is called

• A. Fission
• B. Salt
• C. Fusion
• D. Neutralization

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how energy is released in nuclear reactions when light nuclei fuse. When two hydrogen nuclei join to form helium, the resulting helium nucleus has slightly less mass than the two hydrogen nuclei combined. That missing mass is converted into energy, according to E = mc^2, so energy is released in the process. This fusion of light nuclei is what powers stars and is distinct from other processes: fission splits a heavy nucleus into lighter ones, neutralization is an acid–base reaction producing salt and water, and simply forming a salt is a chemical change rather than a nuclear energy release. So the described process is fusion.

The main idea here is how energy is released in nuclear reactions when light nuclei fuse. When two hydrogen nuclei join to form helium, the resulting helium nucleus has slightly less mass than the two hydrogen nuclei combined. That missing mass is converted into energy, according to E = mc^2, so energy is released in the process. This fusion of light nuclei is what powers stars and is distinct from other processes: fission splits a heavy nucleus into lighter ones, neutralization is an acid–base reaction producing salt and water, and simply forming a salt is a chemical change rather than a nuclear energy release. So the described process is fusion.