Is Fusion Considered a Chemical Reaction in Stars?

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The discussion clarifies the distinction between chemical and nuclear reactions. It emphasizes that Dalton's law states that chemicals do not change into atoms during a chemical reaction, which is accurate as chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of electrons, not changes to atomic nuclei. In contrast, fusion, such as the process occurring in stars where hydrogen combines to form helium, is classified as a nuclear reaction. This process involves high temperatures and the collision of atomic nuclei, resulting in the formation of new elements. The conversation also touches on fission, where a heavier nucleus splits into lighter elements. Overall, chemical reactions maintain the same elements but rearrange them, while nuclear reactions involve fundamental changes to the atomic structure.
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im reading a chemistry text and its says in daltons law chemicals can not change into atoms during a chemical reaction.but if fusion is a chemical reaction then this is wrong beacuse in stars for example hydrogen combine with hydrogen to form helium .i guest i need a little clarification of what a chemical reaction is.
 
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Fusion is not a chemical reaction. It is a nuclear reaction. In chemical reactions nuclei don't change. Chemical reactions take place in low temperatures (up to several thousands K), while fusion requires temperatures many orders of magnitude higher (billions of K).
 
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i guest i need a little clarification of what a chemical reaction is

chemical reactions involve electrons
whilst
nuclear reactions involve particles inside the atomic nucleus - protons and neutrons
 
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pinochet said:
im reading a chemistry text and its says in daltons law chemicals can not change into atoms during a chemical reaction.but if fusion is a chemical reaction then this is wrong beacuse in stars for example hydrogen combine with hydrogen to form helium .i guest i need a little clarification of what a chemical reaction is.
I think not. Chemical reaction involves two substances that are chemically combined to form a brand new substance which is different from its original properties while nuclear reaction involves two nuclei colliding with each other at high speed to form a new type of atomic nucleus. (Am I correct?) Just like the Sun, hydrogen fuses with hydrogen to form helium via nuclear fusion.
 
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Nuclear reactions involve changes to atomic nucleii, transforming the atom into that of a different element.
Nucleii combining to form heavier elements is fusion.
Then there also is fission where a heavier element's nucleus breaks up.
Commonly a helium nucleus splits off from the heavy nucleus and the remainder becomes a lighter element, which may then undergo still further decay.

Chemical reactions do not involve nucleii, the elements remain the same but they are recombined in different ways.
 
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thank you guys i get it now .
 
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