# Problem: The thermite reaction, Fe2O3(s) + 2Al(s)  →  2Fe(s) + Al2O3(s), Ho= -851.5kJ/mol, is one of the most exothermic reactions known. Because the heat released is sufficient to melt the iron product, the reaction is used to weld metal under the ocean.How does this amount of thermal energy compare with the energy released when 2 mol of protons and 2 mol of neutrons combine to form 1 mol of alpha particles?Hint: The mass of a proton is 1.0072765 amu, the mass of a neutron is 1.0086649 amu, and the mass of a helium nucleus is 4.0015 amu.

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###### FREE Expert Solution

Nuclear equation:

Step 1: Calculate the mass defect (Δm) in kg.

$\overline{){\mathbf{∆}}{\mathbf{m}}{\mathbf{=}}{\mathbf{p}}{\mathbf{r}}{\mathbf{o}}{\mathbf{d}}{\mathbf{u}}{\mathbf{c}}{\mathbf{t}}{\mathbf{s}}{\mathbf{-}}{\mathbf{r}}{\mathbf{e}}{\mathbf{a}}{\mathbf{c}}{\mathbf{t}}{\mathbf{a}}{\mathbf{n}}{\mathbf{t}}{\mathbf{s}}}$

Δm = –5.0454 x 10-29 kg

###### Problem Details

The thermite reaction, Fe2O3(s) + 2Al(s)  →  2Fe(s) + Al2O3(s), Ho= -851.5kJ/mol, is one of the most exothermic reactions known. Because the heat released is sufficient to melt the iron product, the reaction is used to weld metal under the ocean.

How does this amount of thermal energy compare with the energy released when 2 mol of protons and 2 mol of neutrons combine to form 1 mol of alpha particles?

Hint: The mass of a proton is 1.0072765 amu, the mass of a neutron is 1.0086649 amu, and the mass of a helium nucleus is 4.0015 amu.