The binding energy per nucleon of a nucleus is the binding energy divided by the total number of nucleons.
- Measure of stability of the nucleus. Larger the binding energy per nucleon, the greater the work that must be done to remove the nucleon from the nucleus, the more stable the nucleus
Graph of the variation of binding energy per nucleon with nucleon number
Important features of the graph:
- Excluding the lighter nuclei, the average binding energy per nucleon is about 8 MeV.
- The maximum binding energy per nucleon occurs at around mass number A = 50, and corresponds to the most stable nuclei. Iron nucleus Fe56 is located close to the peak with a binding energy per nucleon value of approximately 8.8 MeV. It’s one of the most stable nuclides that exist.
- Nuclei with very low or very high mass numbers have lesser binding energy per nucleon and are less stable because the lesser the binding energy per nucleon, the easier it is to separate the nucleus into its constituent nucleons.
- Nuclei with low mass numbers may undergo nuclear fusion, where light nuclei are joined together under certain conditions so that the final product may have a greater binding energy per nucleon.
- Nuclei with high mass numbers may undergo nuclear fission, where the nucleus split to give two daughter nuclei with the release of neutrons. The daughter nuclei will possess a greater binding energy per nucleon.
Why B.E vs A graph drops down for heavy nuclei?
Why peaks are seen in B.E vs A graph?
Because stability also depends on whether the number of protons and neutrons are (even-even), (odd-odd) or (even-odd~odd-even)
For heavy nuclei as we move toward higher atomic mass the number of neutrons (N)> the number of protons (Z) and hence increasing the coulomb forces between the nucleus resulting in an unstable nuclei
great info and very helpful
What does the gradient of the graph show
thank you with this helpful information
Why binding energy per nucleon is better than binding energy to analyze the stability of nucleons
Fantastic inforation nd even nicely presented.
ah fantastic information presented neatly cheers lads
am glad and am to be glad if I get exposure to one great physist and we discuss and discover issues
Key concept is: higher B.E means more external enery need,to supply so in oder to break nucleus into contituents . AS more EXTERNAL ENERGY is to supply that means its internal energy is small ( therefore more stable the nucleus)
Vice versa…
well thought out work!
But why does wikipedia say that Ni 62 has the highest binding energy per nucleon ?https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel-62
It’s highest for Fe and is stable till Ni but after Ni the stability decreases