How to Convert From Hydrogen to Helium

Hydrogen is the first element of the Periodic Table of Elements. In nature, hydrogen is constantly being converted to helium -- the second element of the Periodic Table of Elements -- by a process of nuclear fusion called a proton-proton chain-reaction. This method of fusion is highly volatile and requires a great deal of time to complete. Currently, it is what causes the sun to shine. Consequently, this method is impractical for an individual to duplicate on a small scale. However, the process does exist in reality, and it is worthwhile to explain, if only for theoretical purposes.

Instructions

1

Make sure the temperature of the protons in a hydrogen atom is high enough to overcome electrostatic repulsion -- also known as Coulomb's law. The temperature of the protons must meet or exceed the current temperature of the sun.

2

Fuse two hydrogen protons into deuterium, which will cause a positron and a neutrino to emerge, as one of the hydrogen protons converts to a neutron. This process is extremely slow and can take literally thousands of years.

3

Fuse the deuterium created in step two with another hydrogen atom. This will produce a light helium isotope (3He).

4

Fuse two Helium-3 nuclei together. This will create a Helium-4 nucleus by combining two protons and two neutrons from the reaction. The two other protons in the reaction will spin off and enter into their own separate helium-creating reactions, which is why the process is a chain reaction. This step of the process will cause six hydrogen protons to combine, forming a helium nucleus, which will consist of two protons and two neutrons.