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Hydrogen to Helium

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  • 09-06-2017 9:16pm
    #1
    Beeker
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,643 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I know little about fusion but always wondered the following.

    It take four Hydrogen atoms to make one helium atom. That's 4 electrons and four protons (one from each hydrogen atom). The helium atom ends up with two electrons, two protons and two neutrons.

    My question is where did the neutrons come from?
    Where did 2 of the protons go?
    and where did two of the electrons go?


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    #2
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,695 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    The half live of a free neutron is about 10 minutes 11 seconds. And it decays into a proton and electron. This is why the neutron bomb was devised. To kill people but leave quickly dissipate the radiation.


    But the reverse is not as simple as 4H going to He, you cycle through Carbon, Nitrogen and Oxygen , it's a bit like the Krebs Cycle in Biology. And yes those atoms and hydrogen are handy for biology. And yes overall the electron and proton of two of the hydrogens get converted to neutrons.

    450px-CNO_Cycle.svg.png


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNO_cycle

    neutron decay etc
    http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Particles/proton.html


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    #3
    Beeker
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,643 Mod ✭✭✭✭Beeker


    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    The half live of a free neutron is about 10 minutes 11 seconds. And it decays into a proton and electron. This is why the neutron bomb was devised. To kill people but leave quickly dissipate the radiation.


    But the reverse is not as simple as 4H going to He, you cycle through Carbon, Nitrogen and Oxygen , it's a bit like the Krebs Cycle in Biology. And yes those atoms and hydrogen are handy for biology. And yes overall the electron and proton of two of the hydrogens get converted to neutrons.

    450px-CNO_Cycle.svg.png


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNO_cycle

    neutron decay etc
    http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Particles/proton.html

    Thank you Sir, I need to do some homework. :)


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    #4
    Fathom
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Regional East Moderators, Regional Midlands Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators, Regional North Mods, Regional West Moderators, Regional South East Moderators, Regional North East Moderators, Regional North West Moderators, Regional South Moderators Posts: 9,001 CMod ✭✭✭✭Fathom


    Beeker wrote: »
    Thank you Sir, I need to do some homework. :)
    Me too. Thanks for your OP.


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    #5
    Rubecula
    Registered Users Posts: 8,551 ✭✭✭Rubecula


    Hey Beeker LTNS

    If it takes 4 H to make one He, how many to make one Fe? or Uranium for that matter? H is the primordial matter, so it must be a hell of a lot to give us the universe we now have.


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