Oxygen-16 (15.994915 amu) is synthesized in the sun by fusion of Carbon-12 (12.000000 amu) and Helium-4

(4.00260 amu). How much energy is released in this nuclear reaction?

3.82 x 10-18 kJ

X 10-15

1.20 x 101

1.142 * 10⁻¹⁵ kJ

Explanation:

Total mass of C-12 and He-4 = 12.00000 + 4.00260 = 16.00260 amu

mass of O-16 = 15.99495 amu

Difference in mass = 16.00260 - 15.99495 = 0.00765 amu

The difference in mass 0.00765 is converted into energy.

It is known that,

1 amu = 931.46 MeV

then,

0.00765 amu * 931.46 MeV / amu = 7.1257 Mev

In joule:

1.142 * 10⁻¹⁵ kJ

Because 1 MeV = 1.6 * 10⁻¹⁶ Kj