Nuclear eactions can be written out in equation form with information about the nuclei that take place in the fusion reaction and the nuclei that are produced. In one to two sentences, explain how you would identify the reaction as fusion, and give two different criteria.
3 answers
One way to identify a fusion reaction is by looking at the nuclei involved in the reaction, where lighter nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. Additionally, the release of large amounts of energy and the formation of high-energy particles, such as neutrons, can also serve as criteria for identifying fusion reactions.
Use the equation to answer the prompt. 10 6C→10 5B+ 0+1e A student claims that the equation models beta-minus decay because the atomic number of the nucleus decreases by one. In one or two sentences, explain the error in the student’s reasoning.
The student's reasoning is incorrect because beta-minus decay involves the emission of a beta-minus particle (an electron) from the nucleus, resulting in an increase in atomic number. However, in the given equation 10 6C → 10 5B + 0 -1e, the atomic number of the nucleus (carbon) is decreasing by one, which is indicative of a nuclear reaction involving either a nuclear capture or fusion, rather than beta-minus decay.