Nuclear binding energy

There is a discrepancy between the mass of a nucleus and the sum total of the individual masses of its constituents. This difference is called the mass defect. We know that energy is equivalent to mass in Einstein's equation, E = mc2 A measure of the stability of an atom is its binding energy per nucleon, usually expressed in MeV(millions of electron-volts). binding energy/nucleon = total binding energy for the nucleus/mass number This is an average of the energy needed to remove a nucleon from the nucleus. In nuclear reactions energy is released or absorbed as a result of differences in the nuclear binding energy of the original materials and the resulting products.

In the graph of binding energy per nucleon against mass number, the following observations can be made as the nucleon number increases: 1. the binding energy/nucleon increases quickly at first then less so, up to a maximum at iron(Fe56) 2. after iron the binding energy/nucleon slowly decreases 3. less massive nucleons, up to iron, participate in fusion reactions. 4. nucleons more massive than iron participate in fission reactions.

Nuclear fission
is the disintegration of a large nucleus(the parent)into two smaller(daughter) nuclei by the capture of a 'slow' (thermal) neutron.

The equation describes the fission of uranium-235 by a slow neutron into barium and krypton nuclei, with the emission of three fast neutrons.

Nuclear fusion:
two (or more) atomic nuclei form a single heavier nucleus. The reaction only takes place at very high densities and temperatures. There are many examples of fusion reactions. This is one of the more common ones - the fusion of deuterium with tritium to make helium(plus a neutron). Termed the D-T reaction.

Calculate the binding energy for the 12-C nucleus.?

If the mass of one neutron is 1.00866 amu, the mass of one proton is 1.00728 amu, and the mass of a 12-C nucleus is 11.99671 amu, calculate the binding energy for the 12-C nucleus. A. 8.90 x 10^9 kJ/mol B. 8.90 x 10^12 kJ/mol C. 1.10 x 10^18 kJ/mol

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12-C has 6 protons and 6 neutrons...this means that the mass of all of its protons = 6 x 1.00728 amu, or 6.04368 amu. Then the mass of all of its neutrons = 6 x 1.00866, or 6.05196 amu. Add these two numbers together to get what the mass of the atom should be 6.04368+6.05196 = 12.09564 amu This mass can be used to find the mass defect, which is the difference between the mass the atom SHOULD have and the mass it actually does have. 12.09564 - 11.99671 = 0.09893 amu. The mass defect is the mass from E=mc^2, and this is the formula you use to calculate binding energy. The c in this equation is the speed of light, which is 3 x 10^8, or 9 x 10^16 when it is squared. But you can't just multiply the 0.09893 amu--it has to be in kilograms so that energy will come out in Joules. 1 kg = 1.67 x 10^-27 amu. So, 0.09893 amu x 1.67x10^-27 = 1.65 x 10^-28 kg Now plug this mass into E = mc^2 E = (1.65 x 10^-28)(9 x 10^16) For a shortcut, do 1.65 x 9 = 14.85, this is your coefficient. Then the power of ten is 10(^28+16), or 10^-12 14.85 x 10^-12, or better stated 1.485 x 10^-11 Joules of energy for one atom of carbon 12. Now, one mole is 6.02 x 10^23 atoms. So...6.02 x 1.485 = 8.9 for the coefficient 10^(-11+23) = 10^12 This is 8.9 x 10^12 JOULES/mole, but your problem asks for kilojoules, so divide by 1000 8.9 x 10^12 / 1000 = answer A, 8.9 x 10^9

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