---
title: "A potential nuclear fusion reactor relies on the reaction represented below:  \\[ {}_1^2\\text{H} + {}_1^3\\text{H} \\rightarrow {}_2^4\\text{He} + {}_0^1\\text{n} \\]  The rest masses of the reacting and product particles are given in the table.  | Particle | Mass (\\(\\text{u}\\)) | | :— | :— | | \\({}_1^2\\text{H}\\) | \\(2.0141\\) | | \\({}_1^3\\text{H}\\) | \\(3.0160\\) | | \\({}_2^4\\text{He}\\) | \\(4.0026\\) | | \\({}_0^1\\text{n}\\) | \\(1.0087\\) |  Assuming \\(1\\text{ u} \\approx 931.5\\text{ MeV}/c^2\\), what is the average energy released per nucleon of the initial reactants?"
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date_modified: "2026-09-28T11:59:55+00:00"
---

# A potential nuclear fusion reactor relies on the reaction represented below:

\[ {}_1^2\text{H} + {}_1^3\text{H} \rightarrow {}_2^4\text{He} + {}_0^1\text{n} \]

The rest masses of the reacting and product particles are given in the table.

| Particle | Mass (\(\text{u}\)) |
| :— | :— |
| \({}_1^2\text{H}\) | \(2.0141\) |
| \({}_1^3\text{H}\) | \(3.0160\) |
| \({}_2^4\text{He}\) | \(4.0026\) |
| \({}_0^1\text{n}\) | \(1.0087\) |

Assuming \(1\text{ u} \approx 931.5\text{ MeV}/c^2\), what is the average energy released per nucleon of the initial reactants?

A potential nuclear fusion reactor relies on the reaction represented below:

\[ {}_1^2\text{H} + {}_1^3\text{H} \rightarrow {}_2^4\text{He} + {}_0^1\text{n} \]

The rest masses of the reacting and product particles are given in the table.

| Particle | Mass (\(\text{u}\)) |
| :--- | :--- |
| \({}_1^2\text{H}\) | \(2.0141\) |
| \({}_1^3\text{H}\) | \(3.0160\) |
| \({}_2^4\text{He}\) | \(4.0026\) |
| \({}_0^1\text{n}\) | \(1.0087\) |

Assuming \(1\text{ u} \approx 931.5\text{ MeV}/c^2\), what is the average energy released per nucleon of the initial reactants?

- **A.** \(2.2\text{ MeV/nucleon}\)
- **B.** \(2.9\text{ MeV/nucleon}\)
- **C.** \(3.5\text{ MeV/nucleon}\)
- **D.** \(4.4\text{ MeV/nucleon}\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123490/*