What is the source of the energy released in fission and fusion reactions?
a) mass converted to energy
b) breaking of chemical bonds
c) formation of alpha particles
d) formation of new chemical bonds

A) mass converted to energy

Explanation:

Nuclear fusion occurs when two light nuclei fuse together, forming a heavier nucleus. In the process, the mass of the final nucleus is smaller than the total mass of the initial nuclei, so part of the initial mass has been converted into energy. An example of nuclear fusion is the fusion of two nuclei of hydrogen into helium, a process that occurs in the core of the stars.

Nuclear fission occurs when a heavy nucleus breaks into two or more smaller nuclei. In the process, the total mass of the final nuclei is smaller than the mass of the initial nucleus, so part of the mass has been converted into energy. An example of nuclear fission is the fission of the uranium, which occurs in nuclear power plants.

In both cases, the energy released in the process can be calculated using Einstein's equation:

where

is the difference in mass between final products and initial nucleus/nuclei

c is the speed of light

a

Explanation: