A nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus with the release of energy is called?

A nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus with the release of energy is called?

• A. Nuclear Fission
• B. Decay Constant
• C. Nuclear Fusion
• D. Fusion energy production

Answer: (C)

The main idea is nuclear fusion, where two light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus and release energy. This happens because the binding energy per nucleon increases for light to intermediate-mass nuclei, so the resulting nucleus is more tightly bound and some mass is converted into energy (mass–energy equivalence). The Sun and other stars fuse hydrogen into helium under extreme temperatures and pressures, demonstrating this process in nature. In contrast, nuclear fission splits a heavy nucleus into lighter ones, which is a different reaction with its own energy release. The decay constant describes how quickly unstable nuclei decay, not a fusion reaction. “Fusion energy production” refers to the energy produced by fusion, not the reaction itself.

The main idea is nuclear fusion, where two light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus and release energy. This happens because the binding energy per nucleon increases for light to intermediate-mass nuclei, so the resulting nucleus is more tightly bound and some mass is converted into energy (mass–energy equivalence). The Sun and other stars fuse hydrogen into helium under extreme temperatures and pressures, demonstrating this process in nature.

In contrast, nuclear fission splits a heavy nucleus into lighter ones, which is a different reaction with its own energy release. The decay constant describes how quickly unstable nuclei decay, not a fusion reaction. “Fusion energy production” refers to the energy produced by fusion, not the reaction itself.