Final answer:
To calculate the reaction energy Q for the specific nuclear fusion reaction of hydrogen isotopes, you must determine the mass difference between reactants and products (the mass defect) and then multiply this value by 931.49 MeV/u. Unfortunately, without the precise atomic mass values, it's not possible to compute an exact answer. Nonetheless, the given formula and methodology are correct for these types of calculations.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the reaction energy Q for the fusion reaction p + 3,1 H --> 2,1 H + 2,1 H, one must find the difference in mass between the reactants and products and then convert this mass difference to energy. The difference in mass (mass defect) is the mass of the reactant side subtracted by the mass of the product side. The energy released (Q value) is the mass defect multiplied by 931.49 MeV/u, where 1 atomic mass unit (u) is equivalent to 931.49 megaelectron volts (MeV).
The masses involved are, protons and deuterons (3,1 H) typically have masses of approximately 1.007825 u and 3.016 u respectively, while each deuteron (2,1 H) produced in the reaction has a mass of about 2.014 u.
To solve the problem you would need to know the precise atomic masses of the reactants and products, which are not provided in the question. If those were known, you'd use the formula:
Q = (mass of reactants – mass of products) × 931.49 MeV/u
Without the precise masses, the exact reaction energy cannot be calculated. When the precise atomic mass values are known, ensure that the answer is expressed in Megaelectron volts (MeV) as requested.