Calculate the mass defect and nuclear binding energy per nucleon of each nuclide. a. Li-7 (atomic mass = 7.016003 amu)

Key Concepts

Mass Defect

The mass defect is the difference between the mass of an atomic nucleus and the sum of the individual masses of its protons and neutrons. This discrepancy arises because some mass is converted into energy when nucleons bind together, according to Einstein's equation E=mc². The mass defect is crucial for understanding nuclear stability and energy release in nuclear reactions.

Nuclear Binding Energy

Nuclear binding energy is the energy required to disassemble a nucleus into its constituent protons and neutrons. It is directly related to the mass defect; the greater the mass defect, the higher the binding energy. This energy is a measure of the stability of a nucleus: a higher binding energy indicates a more stable nucleus, while a lower binding energy suggests it is more likely to undergo radioactive decay.

Binding Energy per Nucleon

Binding energy per nucleon is the average energy that binds each nucleon (proton or neutron) in a nucleus. It is calculated by dividing the total binding energy of the nucleus by the number of nucleons. This value is useful for comparing the stability of different nuclei; generally, nuclei with higher binding energy per nucleon are more stable and less likely to undergo fission or fusion.