How Does the 3rd Neutron Form in a Nuclear Fusion Reaction?

[vincentm]

Okay deuterium consists of 1 proton and 1 neutron and tritium consists of 2 protons and 1 neutron, now if one atom of each, smash together that forms an atom of Helium which consists of 2 proton and 2 neutrons, a 3rd neutron is created and released, how does the 3rd neutron come about?

 

[Doc Al]

Tritium has 1 proton and 2 neutrons. (Both deuterium and tritium are isotopes of hydrogen.)

 

[Astronuc]

Supplementing what Doc Al mentioned, He³ consists of 2 protons and 1 neutron, and undergoes an aneutronic (i.e. no neutrons) fusion reaction with D.

d + He³ -> He⁴ + p

or

(1p, 1n) + (2p, 1n) -> (2p, 2n) + p

Nucleon balance equations, similar to elements (moles) balancing in a chemical equation.

 

[vincentm]

Supplementing what Doc Al mentioned, He³ consists of 2 protons and 1 neutron, and undergoes an aneutronic (i.e. no neutrons) fusion reaction with D.
d + He³ -> He⁴ + p
or
(1p, 1n) + (2p, 1n) -> (2p, 2n) + p
Nucleon balance equations, similar to elements (moles) balancing in a chemical equation.

Thank you, also what i notice is that once the helium atom has formed i lose a proton, i guess that is where i gain a neutron?

 

[Doc Al]

Thank you, also what i notice is that once the helium atom has formed i lose a proton, i guess that is where i gain a neutron?

When deuterium and tritium fuse, it goes like this:

(1p, 1n) + (1p, 2n) -> (2p, 2n) + n

So you don't "gain" a neutron.

 

[vincentm]

When deuterium and tritium fuse, it goes like this:
(1p, 1n) + (1p, 2n) -> (2p, 2n) + n
So you don't "gain" a neutron.

I'm a bit confused now, Astronuc does:

(1p, 1n) + (1p, 2n) -> (2p, 2n) + p

 

[Astronuc]

Doc Al did (1p, 1n) + (1p, 2n) -> (2p, 2n) + n

I did (1p, 1n) + (2p, 1n) -> (2p, 2n) + p

 

[mathman]

You misread Astronuc. He had (2p,1n) (or He3) as the second term going in, not (1p,2n) (or H3 or Tritium nucleus).

 

[vincentm]

You misread Astronuc. He had (2p,1n) (or He3) as the second term going in, not (1p,2n) (or H3 or Tritium nucleus).

I did, sorry about that astro, i just suck at math right now.