Which best describes what forms in nuclear fusion?

two smaller, more stable nuclei

two larger, less stable nuclei

one smaller, less stable nucleus

one larger, more stable nucleus

Nuclear fusion is a type of nuclear reaction where two or more atomic nuclei collides at a very high speed resulting to forming a new nucleus. This binding of the atomic nuclei results to an energy called the binding energy. Thus, the best answer is two smaller, more stable nuclei.

Answer: one larger, more stable nuclei.

Explanation:

Nuclear fussion is the process of union of smaller atom nuclei into one single larger and more stable nucleus.

It is possible to combine two lighter (smaller) less stable nuclei to form one larger nucleus because the two ligher atoms may gain stability through nuclear fusion.

Those reactions are able to release a huge amount of energy.

A good example of nuclear fussion is what happens in the Sun. The energy of the Sun comes from a series of nuclear fussion reactions in which two hydrogen atoms fuse to form one helium atom plus energy.

Hydrogen is the lightest atom: its nucleus has one proton. Hellium nuclei have 2 protons. So two lighter hydrogen nuclei combine to produce one larger and more stable helium nuclei.