Question

The overall hydrogen burning reaction in stars can be represented as the conversion of four protons to one alpha particle. Use the data for the mass of H-1 and He-4 to calculate the energy released by this process.

Answer 1

mass deficit= 1*MHe4 - 4*Mh1
for the mass of these isotopes, use a mass isotope chart. http://www.chem.ualberta.ca/~massspec/atomic_mass_abund.pdf

then, energy= massdeficit*c^2

Answer 2

remember that each atomic mass unit u is equivalent to 1.660538921×10−27 kg