Question

Calculate the Q-value of the fusion reaction
4He + 4He = 8Be.
Is such a fusion energetically favourable? Atomic mass of 8Be is 8.0053 u and that of 4He is 4.0026 u.

Answer 1

No, there is no possibility of such reaction’s favourability.

Explanation:

It is given that

8Be has the atomic mass = 8.0053 u

4He has the atomic mass = 4.0026 u

Q-value required = $(2 \times 4.00268 .0053) c 2$                                

$=0.0001 \times 931 \mathrm{MeV}$                          

$=0.0001 \times 106 \mathrm{eV} \times 931$                              

So, the Q-value is found as 93.1 KeV.

From the above calculations, it is understood that the fusion reactions are not energetically favourable.