Question

Why does the conversion of hydrogen to helium only occur at very high temperatures?

a. Conversion actually occurs at all temperatures.
b. Short wavelength photons are needed for the conversion.
c. Hydrogen doesn't form helium unless it is ionized.
d. Hydrogen is not a gas a low temperatures.
e. High speeds are needed to overcome the repulsion of like charges.

Answer 1

The conversion of hydrogen to helium requires very high temperatures to achieve the necessary high speeds for overcoming electrostatic repulsion and allowing nuclear fusion to occur.

Step-by-step explanation:

The conversion of hydrogen to helium only occurs at very high temperatures because high speeds are needed to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between positively charged hydrogen nuclei. These high speeds can only be achieved at temperatures around 15 million Kelvin or more, where hydrogen atoms can ionize to form plasma, the state of matter required for nuclear fusion. In the Sun, fusion occurs primarily at the boundary of the helium core, where these conditions are met, thus converting hydrogen nuclei into helium and releasing energy in the process.