Question

1. (1 pts) what happens in step 1 of nuclear fusion as it occurs in the sun?

Explanation:

In the Sun's nuclear fusion (proton - proton chain), Step 1 involves two hydrogen - 1 nuclei (protons, $^1_1H$) colliding. Due to the high temperature and pressure in the Sun's core, the electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged protons is overcome. They fuse together, and one of the protons undergoes beta - plus decay (positron emission and neutrino production) to form a deuterium nucleus ($^2_1H$), along with a positron ($e^+$) and a neutrino ($
u_e$). The reaction is $^1_1H+^1_1H
ightarrow ^2_1H + e^++
u_e$.

Answer:

In Step 1 of the Sun's nuclear fusion (proton - proton chain), two hydrogen - 1 nuclei (protons) fuse, with one proton undergoing beta - plus decay to form a deuterium nucleus, a positron, and a neutrino (reaction: $^1_1H + ^1_1H
ightarrow ^2_1H+e^++
u_e$).