The three isotopes of lithium listed below are studied in a laboratory

PHYSICS · Subjective · CBSE · Physics · Nuclei · Nuclei

Problem

The three isotopes of lithium listed below are studied in a laboratory. • Nuclear mass of

^{6}\!\text{Li}=6.015\,12\,\text{u}

• Nuclear mass of

^{7}\!\text{Li}=7.016\,00\,\text{u}

• Nuclear mass of

^{8}\!\text{Li}=8.022\,49\,\text{u}

Other required data: • Mass of a proton

=1.007\,276\,\text{u}

• Mass of a neutron

=1.008\,665\,\text{u}

•

1\,\text{u}=931.5\,\text{MeV}

(a) For each isotope, calculate: (i) the mass defect, and (ii) the binding energy per nucleon. (b) On a set of axes that you draw, plot a bar graph of binding energy per nucleon versus mass number

A

for the three isotopes. (c) Using your results, identify the most stable lithium isotope and justify your answer. (d) Suggest, with reason, whether

^{8}\!\text{Li}

would be expected to occur naturally in significant abundance.

Related theory

Nuclear Binding Energy
Mass defect and binding energy
Nuclear physics
Mass energy equivalence
Nuclei

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