When a nucleus forms from the
individual particles a small percent of
the mass of each of these protons and
neutrons appears to disappear. This
“missing” mass is known as the mass
defect.
In actuality this mass defect is
converted to energy according to the
equation E= mc2 and this energy is
release as infrared radiation (heat)
visible radiation (light) ultraviolet
radiation, x-ray radiation, and gamma
radiation.
This energy is called the binding energy
because it provides the force which
holds or binds all of the nucleons (the
positively charged protons and the
neutrally charged neutrons) together in
a very small area.
The binding energy can be defined as
the amount of energy that is released
when a nucleus is formed from its
subatomic particles.
Conversely, the binding energy is the
amount of energy that must be
replaceded to break the nucleus apart.
The greater the amount of binding
energy per nucleon the more stable the
nucleus is.
To calculate the binding energy
1--find the total mass of the
individual particles.
mp=1.007825 amu
mn=1.008665 amu
2--calculate the mass defect by
subtracting the mass of the atom from
the mass of the particles.
3--convert the mass defect into the
binding energy it would provide using
the equation E = mc2. (c = 1.22 x 10-5)
4—Divide the binding energy by the
number of nucleons.