(Deuterium–tritium fusion)
The thermonuclear reaction
12H + 13H → 24He + 01n
occurs inside a fusion reactor. The following atomic masses are provided:
• 2H = 2.014102 u • 3H = 3.016049 u
• 4He = 4.002603 u • n = 1.008665 u
Constants: 1 u = 931.5 MeV, 1 eV = 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ J, NA = 6.022 × 10²³ mol⁻¹.
Answer the following:
(i) Calculate the mass defect for one fusion event in atomic mass units.
(ii) Determine the energy released per fusion event in MeV.
(iii) If 1.0 g of deuterium fuses completely with an equal number of tritium nuclei, calculate the total energy released in joules.