Chapter 20, Problem 21E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The mass defect and nuclear binding energy concept, mass number for nuclear binding energy per nucleon peak should be identified and significance of this should be identified.

Concept introduction:

Mass defect can be calculated by subtracting the total mass of product from total mass of reactant.

For example:

₁₃Al²⁷ ₂He⁴ → ₁₅Psup + ₀n ¹

m_Al = 26.981538 u

m_He = 4.002603 u

m_p = 29.981801 u

m_n = 1.008664 u

m_Reactant = m_A1 + m_He = 30.984141 u

m_Product = m_p + m_n = 30.990465 u

Change in mass = 30.99.465 u − 30.984141 u = 0.006324 u

The mass defect is 0.006324 u