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Science

Angleae

(4,482 posts)

7. Elemental helium has no neutrons.

Reply to longship (Reply #1)

Wed Dec 16, 2015, 08:16 AM

Dec 2015

Helium-4 has 2 neutrons. When 2 hydrogen atoms are fused together you get pure helium, whey you fuse 2 deuterium atoms together you get helium-4.

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German Physicists Reach Milestone In Nuclear Fusion Energy Quest [View all] muriel_volestrangler Dec 2015 OP

One has to use deuterium. longship Dec 2015 #1

Deuterium is relatively easy to concentrate, though muriel_volestrangler Dec 2015 #2

Yup! longship Dec 2015 #3

3H, not 3He. nt thereismore Dec 2015 #4

It both works, one reaction throws away a neutron, the other reaction throws away a proton jakeXT Dec 2015 #5

Nice, thanks. nt thereismore Dec 2015 #6

Elemental helium has no neutrons. Angleae Dec 2015 #7

AFAIK, almost all helium has 2 neutrons. longship Dec 2015 #8

On earth yes. In space no. Angleae Dec 2015 #9

Helium-2 is extremely unstable. longship Dec 2015 #10

Beta decay takes care of that. Treant Dec 2015 #11

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