Hydrogen and Helium-4 in thermodynamic equilibrium

In summary, in nuclear statistical equilibrium, the proportion of hydrogen to helium-4 would be 75% to 25%. However, this is an unrealistic scenario as in thermodynamical equilibrium everything would be iron and the proton-proton chain only causes hydrogen to fuse into helium, not the other way around.
  • #1
TrickyDicky
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In thermodynamical equilibrium what would be the proportion of hydrogen to helium-4? According to the proton-proton chain branch I it would seem that the equilibrium would be 75% H-25% He-4? is this correct? (This is of course an unrealistic scenario).
 
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  • #2
TrickyDicky said:
In thermodynamical equilibrium what would be the proportion of hydrogen to helium-4? According to the proton-proton chain branch I it would seem that the equilibrium would be 75% H-25% He-4? is this correct? (This is of course an unrealistic scenario).

In nuclear statistical equilibrium, everything would be iron. P-P causes hydrogen to fuse into helium, but there aren't any significant processes going the other way.
 

Related to Hydrogen and Helium-4 in thermodynamic equilibrium

What is the significance of studying hydrogen and helium-4 in thermodynamic equilibrium?

Understanding the behavior of these two elements in thermodynamic equilibrium can provide insights into the fundamental principles of thermodynamics and the laws of nature. It also has practical applications in fields such as astrophysics, nuclear energy, and materials science.

What is thermodynamic equilibrium?

Thermodynamic equilibrium is a state in which all macroscopic variables, such as temperature, pressure, and composition, are uniform and do not change over time. In this state, there is no net exchange of energy or matter between different parts of a system.

How does hydrogen and helium-4 behave in thermodynamic equilibrium?

In thermodynamic equilibrium, hydrogen and helium-4 exist as a mixture of gas molecules with different velocities and energies. The distribution of these molecules follows the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, which describes the probability of finding a molecule with a given energy at a specific temperature.

What is the relationship between temperature and energy in thermodynamic equilibrium?

In thermodynamic equilibrium, the average kinetic energy of gas molecules is directly proportional to the temperature, as described by the kinetic theory of gases. This means that as the temperature increases, the average energy of gas molecules also increases.

How does the behavior of hydrogen and helium-4 in thermodynamic equilibrium differ from other elements?

Hydrogen and helium-4 have unique properties that make them behave differently from other elements in thermodynamic equilibrium. For example, they have low atomic masses and do not form strong intermolecular bonds, which affects their behavior and properties in equilibrium systems.

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