Question
A student said that chemical energy is used during nuclear fusion. Other students both agreed and disagreed. Which students' comment below is correct?
"No. Fusion is not a conversion of chemical energy, but it is a conversion of gravitational potential energy because stars are so large."
"No. Fusion is not a conversion of chemical energy because chemical energy changes involves electrons, but fusion involves the nucleus."
"Yes. Fusion is a conversion of chemical energy because all changes involving atoms convert chemical energy."
"Yes. Fusion is a conversion of chemical energy because heat and light are produced."
"No. Fusion is not a conversion of chemical energy, but it is a conversion of gravitational potential energy because stars are so large."
"No. Fusion is not a conversion of chemical energy because chemical energy changes involves electrons, but fusion involves the nucleus."
"Yes. Fusion is a conversion of chemical energy because all changes involving atoms convert chemical energy."
"Yes. Fusion is a conversion of chemical energy because heat and light are produced."
Answers
GPT-5 mini
The second comment is correct.
Why: chemical energy involves rearrangement of electrons and chemical bonds; nuclear fusion changes the nuclei and releases nuclear (binding) energy, not chemical energy. Nuclear energies are many orders of magnitude larger (MeV per reaction) than chemical bond energies (eV per bond), so the processes are distinct.
Notes on the first comment: gravitational potential energy can heat and compress a forming star and help start fusion, but the energy released by fusion itself comes from change in nuclear binding energy, not from gravity. The third and fourth comments are incorrect: not all atomic changes are chemical, and producing heat/light does not make an energy source “chemical.”
Why: chemical energy involves rearrangement of electrons and chemical bonds; nuclear fusion changes the nuclei and releases nuclear (binding) energy, not chemical energy. Nuclear energies are many orders of magnitude larger (MeV per reaction) than chemical bond energies (eV per bond), so the processes are distinct.
Notes on the first comment: gravitational potential energy can heat and compress a forming star and help start fusion, but the energy released by fusion itself comes from change in nuclear binding energy, not from gravity. The third and fourth comments are incorrect: not all atomic changes are chemical, and producing heat/light does not make an energy source “chemical.”