What Is the Minimum Energy Required for a Proton to React with Lithium?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the minimum energy required for a proton to react with lithium to produce beryllium and a neutron. It emphasizes that the proton's atomic mass unit (amu) does not need to equal the left side of the reaction equation, as kinetic energy also plays a crucial role. The relationship between energy and mass is highlighted through the equation E=mc^2. Participants suggest focusing on balancing energy rather than just mass when considering the reaction. Understanding both energy and mass is essential for analyzing nuclear reactions effectively.
Ry122
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What minimum energy would the proton need to make the following reaction occur?
H + Li = Be + n
I know that the proton's amu needs to be equal to the left side of the equation's amu.
How does the proton's energy have anything to do with how much energy the result of the reaction has?
 
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The protons amu doesn't have to equal the amu of left side. It's also bringing in kinetic energy. And E=mc^2. You probably aren't expected to actually compute the reaction kinematics, but at least balance energy on both sides, not mass.
 
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