Question

1. nuclear equations describe the nuclei that are involved before and after the reaction. in one to two sentences, explain how you would identify the reaction as fusion, and give two different criteria

Explanation:

In nuclear fusion, two or more light - nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. One criterion is mass number conservation: the sum of mass numbers of nuclei before the reaction equals that after. Another is charge number conservation: the sum of charge numbers of nuclei before equals that after. If these are met and lighter nuclei are forming a heavier one, it is likely a fusion reaction.

Answer:

To identify a nuclear reaction as fusion, check for mass - number and charge - number conservation, and that lighter nuclei combine to form a heavier one. Nuclei before are lighter and fewer in number compared to the single heavier nucleus formed after the reaction.