The carbon in our bodies was formed in nuclear reactions in long-dead stars.How much energy was released when the right number of ⁴He nuclei combined to make ^{12C? The mass of 4He is 3728.40 MeV/}^c^{2 and the mass of 12C is 11,177.93 MeV/}^c^2.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The energy released is the difference in mass energy between the reactants and the product. Three 4He nuclei combine to form one 12C nucleus. The mass of three 4He nuclei is 3 * 3728.40 MeV/c² = 11185.20 MeV/c². The mass of 12C is 11177.93 MeV/c². The energy released is 11185.20 - 11177.93 = 7.27 MeV.

The Carbon in Our Bodies Was Formed in Nuclear Reactions