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What reaction in giant stars for the fusion of hydrogen to form helium?
Wiki User
∙ 6y ago
Fusion could occur with two deuterium nuclei, or one deuterium and one tritium. Helium would be formed in both cases, but does not take part in the fusion itself.
The most likely reaction of deuterium and helium would be:
D + He --> LiM --> D + D + D
The "M" superscript indicates an excited metastable nucleus that instantly breaks apart.
Another reaction is similarly likely:
D + He --> LiM --> D + He
Either way you are making no progress with fusion, the net reaction(s) probably even consumes energy instead of releasing it (my references don't supply energy figures for these reactions). Also such reactions would require higher temperature and pressure than DD or DT fusion do.
Note: deuterium/helium-3 fusion does work and releases energy (at higher temperature and pressure than DD or DT fusion) but only produces helium and neutrons. Helium-3 is also rare.
In practice, the original answer is absolutely right. However the above reactions will happen under conditions of temperature and pressure that permit D/He fusion, but as I already said they get nowhere, they are dead end reactions.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThere are two reactions each 50 percent likely: 1. D + D gives T + proton 2. D + D gives Helium3 + neutron. See link below
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoyes:
D + T --> He + n + 17.59 MeV
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoEither a proton-proton reaction, or the CNO cycle.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoThese are nuclear fusion reactions.
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What is a giant ball of gas primarily hydrogen and helium which undergoes nuclear fusion?
Star
What will happen after 5 billion years to the sun?
Our Sun is about 5 billion years old. In another 5 billion years, we expect the Sun to expand into a red giant star as the hydrogen in the core becomes exhausted and the Sun begins to fuse helium. Helium fusion generates more energy than hydrogen fusion, which will cause the Sun to expand.
What process causes the Sun to continually burn?
The sun does not burn in the classical sense. The sun is so massive that, at its center, matter is compressed with such force hard that Hydrogen atoms fuse together to form Helium atoms. This fusion process liberates a great deal of energy, which escapes as light.
How many atoms of hydrogen are needed to create 1 atom of helium?
Four. There are a couple of possible routes to the fusion reaction that makes helium-4 as a finished product, but it's all about the hydrogen. Most hydrogen is just one proton. Helium-4 has two protons and two neutrons. It takes two hydrogen atoms to contribute their two protons to the nucleus of our He-4 atom. And it takes two more hydrogen atoms (the protons) to undergo transformation into two neutrons to complete the assembly. Note that atoms do not exist as such anywhere on or in the sun. The temperatures are far too high for any electrons to be hanging around any nuclei; our star is a ball of plasma. Our friends at Wikipedia have a nice article posted on proton-proton fusion. A link is provided.
Hypothesize what will happen when the sun exhausts it's supply of hydrogen?
When a main sequence star, such as our sun, exhausts it's supply of Hydrogen, fusion of Hydrogen to Helium ceases in the core. This results in cooling of the core and therefore causes it to contract. As the core contracts, the layers surrounding the star gain kinetic energy until the fusion of Hydrogen is possible in the outer layers. As these layers undergo fusion, they increase in temperature dramatically. The outer layers expand due to heat, and the star becomes massive; the main sequence star has evolved into a red giant. Fusion of Hydrogen to Helium continues in the outer layers, whilst the fusion of heavier elements such as carbon occurs in the core.
What is a giant ball of gas primarily hydrogen and helium which undergoes nuclear fusion?
Star
How nuclear fusion in a main sequence is different from nuclear fusion in a giant star?
Nuclear Fusion in a Giant Star involves Helium being fused into a hydrogen shell that surrounds the core, and Nuclear Fusion in a Main-Sequence star involves Hydrogen being fused into Helium to produce Energy inside of the core.
How is nuclear fusion in a main-sequence star is different from nuclear fusion in a giant star.?
Nuclear Fusion in a Giant Star involves Helium being fused into a hydrogen shell that surrounds the core, and Nuclear Fusion in a Main-Sequence star involves Hydrogen being fused into Helium to produce Energy inside of the core.
Which type of fusion occurs in the red giant phase?
Thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen occurs during the red giant phase. Helium to carbon fusion, or dredge up, also occurs at this time.
The fuel for fusion in the sun's core?
hydrogen atoms join to form helium. no hydrogen= red giant=white dwarf= DEAD
What is the main idea statement about the sun?
The sun is primarily a giant fusion reaction: Hydrogen and Helium. Hydrogen (with one proton in its nucleus) atoms at enormous pressure essentially "fuse" their nuclei... making two protons in the nucleus.. 2 protons= Helium. both of these are gases.
What elements is the fuel for main sequence?
Stars a giant balls of gas mainly hydrogen and helium. inside a star there are such temperatures that hydrogen fusion occurs making helium and when the star runs outta hydrogen it gets hotter and helium fusion occurs then carbon fusion etc etc. so ultimately it depends on the age of the star.
What element is the fuel for main-sequence star?
Stars a giant balls of gas mainly hydrogen and helium. inside a star there are such temperatures that hydrogen fusion occurs making helium and when the star runs outta hydrogen it gets hotter and helium fusion occurs then carbon fusion etc etc. so ultimately it depends on the age of the star.
What is the process they generates energy into the core of the main sequence star?
Hydrogen fusion to make helium. When a star runs out of hydrogen in its core to fuse, it begins collapsing, leaves the main sequence, then ignites helium fusion to make carbon, becoming a red giant.
What produces sun's energy?
Nuclear fusion of Hydrogen to Helium is what produces the Sun's Energy. this takes place in the core. Later when it becomes a Red Giant it will fuse Helium to Carbon
What ful do stars on the main sequence burn?
it is fusion of hydrogen into helium. (like our sun) if it is a red giant (the next stage of our suns life) it is burning helium into denser things.
Is a red giant a main sequence star?
No, a red giant is a star that has just left the hydrogen burning main sequence and begun the next step, burning helium. As helium undergoes fusion at a much higher temperature than hydrogen undergoes fusion, the star expands dramatically and as it expands its outer layers cool to red heat.
