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Originally Posted by TeleMad
Mass is converted into energy in a nuclear reaction.
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No, no, no! The mass is conserved. Whether you are fusing or splitting the nuclei, the strong force bonds between the protons and neutrons is breaking and releasing the incredible amount of energy.
For an example of the mass being conserved in nuclear fusion, two hydrogen isotopes, deuterium, are combined to form helium isotope and a free neutron.
Deutrium (D) has one proton and one neutron with an atomic mass of about 2.014 amu. So, D (2.014) + D (2.014) → ³He (3.02) + n (1.008)
In nuclear fission, the massive nuclei that is being split forms two smaller nuclei, most commonly each is about half as massive as the original nuclei, plus a few free neutrons.
