What type of nuclear reaction is this? (See below?)

#Li + H -> He + He#
(Li-6 + H-1 #-># He-4 + He-3)

1 Answer
Feb 10, 2017

It is a nuclear fusion reaction^.

Explanation:

We know that in a nuclear fusion reaction two or more atomic nuclei combine to form one or more different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles like neutrons and protons. The reaction is accompanied with release of large amounts of energy. The release of energy is due to difference in masses of the atomic nuclei before and after the reaction.

The reaction involves bombarding of #"Li"^6# nuclei with high energy protons #"p"^1# to form a compound nucleus #"Be"^7# which is in excited state. This virtual state decays as shown below

#"p"^1+"Li"^6->("Be"^7)"*" ->"He"^4+"He"^3+4.0" Mev Energy"#

^To be more specific it is Aneutronic fusion reaction in which fusion takes place without the production of neutrons. Such fusion reactions reduce the problems associated with neutron radiation such as ionizing damage, neutron activation and requirements for biological shielding and safety to a large extent.