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collision of hydrogen atoms
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collision of hydrogen atoms
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Aman Sharma
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collision of hydrogen atoms
«
on:
08/05/2012 14:16:13 »
What happens when hydrogen atoms collide under high pressure conditions in the core of a star?
«
Last Edit: 08/05/2012 14:18:20 by Aman Sharma
»
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CliffordK
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Re: collision of hydrogen atoms
«
Reply #1 on:
09/05/2012 00:15:49 »
In the core of a star, one no longer has atoms, but rather plasma, basically ions.
Nuclear Fusion is complicated with the lighter elements.
Looking at the first few elements.
1
H (1 proton) (this is the most common form of hydrogen).
2
H (Deuterium) (1 proton + 1 neutron)
3
H (Tritium) (1 proton + 2 neutrons)
3
He (2 protons + 1 neutron)
4
He (2 protons + 2 neutrons)
6
Li (3 protons + 3 neutrons
7
Li (3 protons + 4 neutrons)
Plus, a few additional isotopes which decompose in less than a second.
Potentially 4 hydrogen atoms (protons) (and 2 electrons in the nucleus?) could be simultaneously fused to form 1 helium
4
He atom.
However, it may also occur in steps.
1
H +
1
H -->
2
H (Deuterium)
Then
1
H +
2
H -->
3
H (or
3
He)
or
2
H +
2
H -->
4
He
or
3
H +
2
H -->
4
He + neutron (this is the reaction that is being attempted in nuclear fusion reactors).
Of course, keeping in mind that in all these reactions, electrons are also being fused into the nucleus, so a proton+electron --> neutron. And, overall, the charge is conserved, so with 4 hydrogen atoms being fused into a single helium atom, 2 of the electrons end up in the nucleus as part of neutrons, 2 of the electrons remain in the orbital shell.
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