Final answer:
The total change in mass for the fusion of two deuterium atoms into helium can be calculated using Einstein's equation, E=mc^2, resulting in a very small mass change of 4.26 × 10^-29 kilograms for the large energy release of 3.83 × 10^-12 joules.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two atoms of 2H (deuterium) are fused to form one atom of 4He (helium), an energy of 3.83 × 10-12 joules is released. According to Einstein's equation, E=mc2, this energy can be used to find the change in mass, where E is energy, m is mass, and c is the speed of light. To find the mass change in kilograms, rearrange the equation to m=E/c2, and using the speed of light (c) as 3.00 × 108 m/s, the calculation is as follows:
m = 3.83 × 10-12 J / (3.00 × 108 m/s)2 = 4.26 × 10-29 kg
This result shows the small amount of mass that is converted to the large quantity of energy in nuclear fusion reactions, highlighting the incredible energy density of such processes.