Chapter 40, Problem 22A

To determine

The reason for not yielding energy on fusing with something else or fissioning.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The process by which the new nuclei forms due to the fusion of two light nuclei is called nuclear fusion and the process in which the heavy nucleus breaks into different nuclei is called the nuclear fission.

The stability of an element depends on the electric force and the strong nuclear force. If the strong nuclear force is stronger than the electric force, then the nucleus of the atom remains in a stable state.

The iron is very stable due to the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. The strong nuclear force between the neutrons and protons is very strong than the electric force between the protons in the nucleus of iron. The nucleus of the iron remains in a state of minimum energy. So, iron neither undergoes fusion nor fusion.

Conclusion:

Thus, the iron does not yield energy because the iron neither undergoes fusion nor fusion nor remains in state of minimum energy.