Nuclear equations describe the nuclei that are involved before and after the reaction. In one to two sentences, but the question is HOW would you identify the reaction as fusion, and give two different criteria.(

Answer 1

You would identify a reaction as fusion if it involves the combining of two lighter atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus while releasing energy. Two criteria to distinguish fusion reactions are: 1) the reactants must be lighter elements, typically isotopes of hydrogen (like deuterium and tritium), and 2) the resulting nucleus must have a greater mass number than either of the original nuclei involved in the reaction.