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The small amount of missing mass that occurs when _____ atoms fuse to form helium

atoms is converted into energy in the form of heat and light.

nitrogen

hydrogen

barium

Ochromium

User Hegdekar
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1 Answer

17 votes
17 votes

Answer:

hydrogen

Step-by-step explanation:

Atomic fusion occurs when 2 or more atoms combine to create a new element.

Helium

Before figuring out what elements create helium, we need to understand its properties. Helium is the second element on the periodic table. It has 2 protons and usually 2 electrons in the base state.

There are technically ions but base helium will have 2 electrons, especially because it is a noble gas.

Fusion

In most cases, including this one, when 2 atoms fuse together you can add their protons together to find the atomic number of the new element. Since helium only has 2 protons, the elements fused to form helium must both have 1 proton.

The element with 1 proton is hydrogen. So, 2 hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium.

Real World Applications

Fusion can be seen across the universe. One of the most common examples of hydrogen fusing to become helium is in stars. Due to the heat within stars, 2 hydrogen atoms can fuse together to create helium. This process also creates energy in the form of heat and light that the star is made of.

User Wjamyers
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