The total binding energy of an `alpha` particle `(""_(2)^(4)He)` is 24.4 MeV whereas the total binding energy of a deutron `(""_(1)^(2)H)` is merely 2.2MeV. When two deutrons are made to combine

Options

A. An `alpha` particle will be obtained
B. An amount of 22.2 MeV energy will be released
C. An amount of 20.0 MeV energy will be released
D. An amount of 22.2 MeV energy will be consumed

Answer

To solve the problem, we need to determine the energy released when two deuterons combine to form an alpha particle. We can do this by comparing the binding energies of the alpha particle and the deuterons.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Binding Energies**:
- The binding energy of an alpha particle (He-4) is given as 24.4 MeV.
- The binding energy of a deuteron (H-2) is given as 2.2 MeV.

2. **Calculate the Total Binding Energy of Two Deuterons**:
- Since we are combining two deuterons, we need to multiply the binding energy of one deuteron by 2.
\[ \text{Total Binding Energy of Two Deuterons} = 2 \times 2.2 \text{ MeV} = 4.4 \text{ MeV} \]

3. **Calculate the Energy Released**:
- The energy released during the fusion process can be calculated by finding the difference between the binding energy of the alpha particle and the total binding energy of the two deuterons.
\[ \text{Energy Released} = \text{Binding Energy of Alpha Particle} - \text{Total Binding Energy of Two Deuterons} \]
\[ \text{Energy Released} = 24.4 \text{ MeV} - 4.4 \text{ MeV} = 20 \text{ MeV} \]

4. **Conclusion**:
- When two deuterons combine to form an alpha particle, a total of 20 MeV of energy is released.

### Final Answer:
The energy released when two deuterons combine to form an alpha particle is **20 MeV**.

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