A deuterium reaction that occurs in an experimental fusion reactor is in two stage:
(a) Two deuterium `(._1^2D)` nuclei fuse together to form a tritium nucleus, with a proton as a by product written as `D(D,p)T`.
(b) A tritium nucleus fuses with another deuterium nucleus to form a helium `._2^4He` nucleus with neutron as a by - product, written as T (D,n) `._2^4He`.
Compute (a) the energy released in each of the two stages, (b) the energy released in the combined reaction per deutrium. (c ) What percentage of the mass energy of the initial deuterium is released. Given,
`{:(._1^2D=2.014102 am u),(._1^3 T=3.016049), (._2^4 He =4.002603 am u),(._1^1 H =1.007825 am u),(._0^1 n =1.00665 am u):}`.

Options

A. `4.03 MeV`
B. `17.58 MeV`
C. `20.61 MeV`
D. `21.61 MeV`

Answer

A

Explanation

Mass defect concept