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POGIL: Mass Defect and Binding Energy In this POGIL we will look at the energy that holds the

nucleus together, called the binding energy. This energy manifests itself in certain properties of the nucleus. As you go through the following calculations, use the following masses and conversions: mass of a proton mass of a neutron 1 u = 1.660x1027 kg 1 eV = 1.60x1019 J 1.007 u 1.009 u

Mass Defect 1. The atomic nucleus 14C has a mass of 14.003 u. (a) How many protons does this nucleus have? (b) How many neutrons does this nucleus have? (c) What is the total mass of the constituent protons plus neutrons you found in parts (a) and (b)?

(d) Compare your answer to (c) with the mass of the nucleus. Calculate the difference.

2. The atomic nucleus 222Rn has a mass of 222.018 u. (a) How many protons does this nucleus have? (b) How many neutrons does this nucleus have? (c) What is the total mass of the constituent protons plus neutrons you found in parts (a) and (b)?

(d) Compare your answer to (c) with the mass of the nucleus. Calculate the difference.

3. The atomic nucleus 241Am has a mass of 241.057 u. (a) How many protons does this nucleus have? (b) How many neutrons does this nucleus have? (c) What is the total mass of the constituent protons plus neutrons you found in parts (a) and (b)?

(d) Compare your answer to (c) with the mass of the nucleus. Calculate the difference.

Notice that all of the nuclei above have less mass than their constituent protons and neutrons by themselves. This is true of all nuclei except 1H. Apparently a nucleus put together has less mass than the sum of its parts. This difference in mass is called the mass defect. 4. Why would 1H show no mass defect?

Binding Energy Recall that like charges repel each other. In atomic nuclei, positively charged protons repel each other with large amounts of force. There must be another force holding them together; this force is called the strong force, aptly named. This force is the strongest in nature but acts only over short distances (on the order of 1015 m). If we were to construct a nucleus from lone protons and neutrons, we would have to push against the mutual electrical repulsion of the protons. Once the distance between the nucleons decreased to around 1015 m, the strong force would take over and hold them together. Since the strong force is attractive, the total energy of the nucleus decreases. The amount by which it decreases is called the binding energy. It is the energy by which the nucleus decreases when put together from its constituent parts. It is therefore also the energy that must be added to the nucleus to break it apart into its constituents. 5. From the information above, explain why nuclei have a mass defect.

6. Using the answers to questions 1 to 3 above, find the difference in rest energy in megaelectronvolts between each of the nuclei below and their constituent protons and neutrons. (a) 14C

(b)

222

Rn

(c)

241

Am

7. Use your answers to question 6 to calculate the average binding energy per nucleon, in megaelectron-volts, for each of the nuclei below. (a) 14C

(b)

222

Rn

(c)

241

Am

8. The mass of a 238U nucleus is 238.0508 u. Calculate its average binding energy per nucleon in megaelectron-volts. Follow the steps you performed above.

9. The mass of a 81Kr nucleus is 80.9166 u. Calculate its average binding energy per nucleon in megaelectron-volts.

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