In a nuclear fusion reaction, the most accurate statement from the provided options is:
The atomic number of the product is the sum of the atomic number of the reactants.
In fusion, two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. The products will have an atomic number that corresponds to the sum of the atomic numbers of the original nuclei involved in the reaction.
The other statements are generally incorrect:
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The number of particles in the product is greater than the number of particles of the reactants. (This is false, as two nuclei typically combine to form one nucleus, resulting in fewer particles.)
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The product of a nuclear fusion reaction is always an element not found in nature. (This is misleading; while fusion processes in stars create heavier elements, many products of fusion can be elements that are naturally occurring.)
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The product has more mass than the reactants because some mass is converted into energy. (This is false; the mass of the products is actually slightly less than the mass of the reactants due to the mass-energy equivalence principle; some mass is converted into energy, which is released in the process.)
Therefore, the correct choice is regarding the atomic number of the product.
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