Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store
seo-qna
SearchIcon
banner

Calculate the binding energy and binding energy per nucleon (in MeV) of a nitrogen nucleus (7N14) from the following data
Mass of proton =1.00783u
Mass of neutron =1.00867u
Mass of nitrogen nucleus =14.00307u

Answer
VerifiedVerified
483.3k+ views
like imagedislike image
Hint: Nuclear binding energies are usually expressed in terms of kJ/mole if nuclei or MeV/nucleon. Calculation of the nuclear binding energy involves the following three steps:
(A) Determining the mass defect between Reactants and Products
(B) Conversion of mass defect into energy
(C) Expressing nuclear binding energy as energy per mole or energy per nucleon.

Formula used:
E=ΔM×931.5MeV
To convert to MeV per nucleon, simply divide by the number of nucleons

Complete step by step answer:
So we have all the data to get a mass defect. First will calculate the mass defect then we will find energy It is given that-
Mp=1.00783u
Mn=1.00867u
Mass of nitrogen nucleus =14.00307u
First we will write a balanced nuclear reaction-
Nuclear reaction : 7p+7n7N14
So the mass defect will be equals to ΔM=7Mp+7Mn M of nucleus
ΔM=7(1.00783)+7(1.00867)14.00307amu
ΔM=0.11243amu
Now we will find binding energy so,
Binding energy E=ΔM×931.5MeV
E=0.11243×931.5=104.73MeV
Now we will find binding energy per nucleon,
Binding energy per nucleon =104.7314
Binding energy per nucleon =7.48MeV

So the answers are 104.73Mev and 7.48 MeV respectively.

Additional Information:
Nuclear binding energy is that the minimum energy that might be required to disassemble the nucleus of an atom into its component parts. These component parts are neutrons and protons, which are collectively called nucleons. The binding energy is usually a positive number, as we'd like to spend energy in moving these nucleons, interested in one another by the strong nuclear force, far away from one another . The mass of an atomic nucleus is a smaller amount than the sum of the individual masses of the free constituent protons and neutrons, consistent with Einstein's equation E=MC2. This 'missing mass' is understood because of the mass deficiency , and represents the energy that was released when the nucleus was formed.

Note:
We should take mass in kg if we are using equation E=MC2 joule.
But in above question it is already in the form of E=M×931.5MeV, so we can use mass in amu.
Latest Vedantu courses for you
Grade 11 Science PCM | CBSE | SCHOOL | English
CBSE (2025-26)
calendar iconAcademic year 2025-26
language iconENGLISH
book iconUnlimited access till final school exam
tick
School Full course for CBSE students
PhysicsPhysics
ChemistryChemistry
MathsMaths
₹41,848 per year
Select and buy