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The triple alpha process produces energy by fusing ____ into ____.

helium; carbon
hydrogen; helium
oxygen; carbon
oxygen and carbon; carbon dioxide
carbon and nitrogen; cyanogen

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The triple-alpha process involves the fusion of three helium nuclei to form a carbon nucleus. It occurs at a higher temperature compared to the fusion of hydrogen into helium.

Step-by-step explanation:

The triple-alpha process is a nuclear reaction in which three helium nuclei are fused together to form a carbon nucleus. This process is called the triple-alpha process because it involves the fusion of three alpha particles, which are helium nuclei. The triple-alpha process occurs at a much higher temperature than the nuclear process for fusing hydrogen into helium because the fusion of helium nuclei requires a higher energy input due to the repulsive electromagnetic forces between the positively charged protons.

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