Multiple Choice
Which of the following is closest to the diameter of a proton (in nanometers)?
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2. Atoms & Elements
The Atom
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During hydrogen fusion in stars, how many protons must combine to form a helium-4 nucleus?
A
3
B
6
C
2
D
4
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that a helium-4 nucleus consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons, making a total of 4 nucleons.
Recall that during hydrogen fusion in stars, protons (which are hydrogen nuclei) combine through a series of nuclear reactions to form helium-4.
Since neutrons in helium-4 are formed from protons via nuclear processes (such as beta-plus decay), the total number of protons initially involved must equal the total nucleons in helium-4.
Therefore, the number of protons that must combine to form one helium-4 nucleus is 4, corresponding to the 2 protons and 2 neutrons in helium-4.
This explains why the answer is 4 protons combining to form a helium-4 nucleus during hydrogen fusion.
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