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The triple-alpha process involves the fusion of two helium-4 nuclei to form a beryllium-8 nucleus, which then fuses with another helium-4 nucleus to produce carbon-12. Beryllium-8 is unstable and decays pretty fast. Okay, really fast: the half-life is about 10-17 seconds. The "unlikely" part comes from the fact that the second fusion needs to happen before the beryllium can decay back into two alpha particles. This doesn't happen to any appreciable degree until the temperature hits a hundred million Kelvin or so.

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Where does nuclear fusion take place in the sun?

Nuclear fusion takes place in the core of the sun.


Where does nuclear fusion naturally take place in the universe?

Nuclear fusion naturally takes place in the core of stars, where high temperatures and pressures allow hydrogen atoms to combine and release energy.


What type of nuclear reaction takes place in stars?

Nuclear fusion is the type of nuclear reaction that occurs in stars. Older stars with a collapsing center can exceed a temperature of one hundred million Kelvin.


Where does sun gets its light from?

There is a chemical reaction taking place at the core of sun. Its called 'Nuclear Fusion'. In this two hydrogen atom get fused together and form a Helium molecule with excreting a lot of energy in form of light and heat. rest of it one more reaction also take place, carbon get react with hydrogen and form nitrogen molecule....with energy liberation......thnx.... There is a chemical reaction taking place at the core of sun. Its called 'Nuclear Fusion'. In this two hydrogen atom get fused together and form a Helium molecule with excreting a lot of energy in form of light and heat. rest of it one more reaction also take place, carbon get react with hydrogen and form nitrogen molecule....with energy liberation......thnx....


In what state must matter exist for fusion reactions to take place?

Matter must exist in a state called plasma for fusion reactions to take place. Plasma is a highly energized state of matter in which electrons are stripped from their atoms, allowing for the nuclei to collide and undergo fusion. This state is commonly found in stars like our Sun.

Related Questions

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 unlikely fusion takes place in the stars that produces carbon?

Formation of the carbon atomic nucleus requires a three way collision of helium nuclei (alpha particles within the core of a giant or supergiant star. These three helium nuclei are converted into carbon by means of the triple-alpha process. [See link] This carbon is then scattered into space when the star explodes as a supernova. For smaller stars the Bethe-Weizsäcker-cycle or CNO cycle (carbon-nitrogen-oxygen) [See link] , is one of two sets of fusion reactions by which stars convert hydrogen to helium. In the CNO cycle, four protons fuse using carbon, nitrogen and oxygen isotopes as a catalyst to produce one alpha particle, two positrons and two electron neutrinos. The carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopes are in effect one nucleus that goes through a number of transformations in an endless loop.


Why doesn't nuclear fusion take place in a white dwarf?

Nuclear fusion doesn't take place in a white dwarf because the core temperature and pressure aren't high enough to initiate the fusion of heavier elements such as carbon and oxygen. White dwarfs have already exhausted their nuclear fuel and are essentially the leftover cores of stars that have gone through their fusion stages.


What happens to a star when the outward force of fusion is less than the inward force?

the star collapses in on itself, and usually when the fusion stops it is in the last stages of its life as a giant or supergiant and forms a white dwarf made of the carbon left over from the second stage of helium to carbon fusion from the core of the star that takes place after the hydrogen to helium fusion. after the white dwarf is formed it will eventually cool off into a black dwarf which is basically a carbon corpse of a star


In what part of the sun does fusion takes place?

Fusion takes place in the core of the sun.


Where does nuclear fusion take place in the sun?

Nuclear fusion takes place in the core of the sun.


Helium fusion results in the production of?

Helium fusion results in the production of heavier elements like carbon and oxygen. It also releases a large amount of energy in the form of light and heat. This process takes place in the cores of stars during the later stages of their evolution.


Can fusion take place in the nucleus of a uranium atom?

Not fusion, but a fission reaction.


What is thermonuclear fusion takes place?

It simply means that thermonuclear fusion happens.


What is the main type of fusion taking place in the sun?

Nuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes take place to form helium.


What reaction takes place in the presence of oxygen and produces carbon dioxide and water?

The reaction that takes place in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water is combustion. In this exothermic reaction, a fuel (such as hydrocarbons) reacts with oxygen to release energy in the form of heat, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.


How does carbon release energy fusion or fission?

Carbon releases energy through fusion in stars, where lighter elements combine to form heavier elements. In fission, carbon can release energy when split into smaller fragments. However, natural carbon fission is not a common process and is predominantly observed in laboratories.