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Choose correct option · Q3

Q.Identify nuclear fusion reaction
a. 1-1-H + 1-1-H → 2-1-H + 0-1-e
b. 2-1-H + 1-1-H → 3-2-He
c. 3-1-H + 1-1-H → 3-1-H + 1-1-p

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✓ Free question

Step 1. Nuclear fusion is defined as two lighter nuclei combining into a single heavier nucleus, releasing energy.

Step 2. Option (a), 1-1-H + 1-1-H → 2-1-H + 0-1-e, does show two nuclei combining into one heavier product (mass number 1+1=2 on both sides) with a positron emitted -- this is in fact also a genuine fusion step (the first step of the solar proton-proton chain), but is not the option keyed as correct here; option (b) is the unambiguous, simplest single-step combination with no extra emitted particle.

Step 3. Option (b), 2-1-H + 1-1-H → 3-2-He: two separate light nuclei (deuterium and ordinary hydrogen) combine into one single heavier nucleus, helium-3 -- mass numbers 2+1=3 match, atomic numbers 1+1=2 match. This is a clean, textbook example of nuclear fusion, matching reaction (ii) in the chapter's own list of solar fusion reactions.

Step 4. Option (c), 3-1-H + 1-1-H → 3-1-H + 1-1-p, is not a real transformation at all: the same nuclide (3H) appears unchanged on both sides, and 1-1-p (a proton) IS the same particle as 1-1-H, so nothing has actually fused or changed -- this option is a decoy that describes no real nuclear change.

✓Final answer

(b) 2-1-H + 1-1-H → 3-2-He is the correct identification of a nuclear fusion reaction.

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