Deuterium-Deuterium Fusion

2H + 2H → 3He + 1n

Overview

Two deuterium nuclei fuse to produce helium-3 and a neutron, releasing 3.27 MeV. An alternative D-D reaction produces tritium and a proton. D-D fusion requires higher temperatures than D-T fusion (about 400 million K) but uses only deuterium, which is abundant in seawater.

Participants

Role Substance Coefficient State
Reactant Hydrogen H 2 (g)
Product Helium He 1 (g)

Everyday Example

Deuterium in one gallon of seawater contains enough fusion fuel energy to equal 300 gallons of gasoline.

Industrial Importance

D-D fusion is a long-term goal for fusion energy because deuterium is virtually unlimited. Current research focuses on D-T as an intermediate step.

Properties

Type
Nuclear
Reversible
No
Energy
Exothermic
ΔH
-320000000.0 kJ/mol

Related Reactions

Alpha Decay of Polonium-210 Alpha Decay of Radium-226 Alpha Decay of Radon-222 Alpha Decay of Thorium-232 Alpha Decay of Uranium-238 Americium-241 Alpha Decay Beta Decay of Carbon-14 Beta Decay of Cesium-137 Beta Decay of Cobalt-60 Beta Decay of Iodine-131

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the equation for Deuterium-Deuterium Fusion?
The balanced equation is: ²H + ²H → ³He + ¹n.
What type of reaction is Deuterium-Deuterium Fusion?
Deuterium-Deuterium Fusion is a nuclear reaction.
Is Deuterium-Deuterium Fusion exothermic or endothermic?
Deuterium-Deuterium Fusion is exothermic (releases energy). The enthalpy change (ΔH) is -320000000.0 kJ/mol.