Three light isotopes are listed below along with their atomic masses (which include…

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Nuclear physics · Nuclear physics

Problem

Three light isotopes are listed below along with their atomic masses (which include the masses of their electrons). (a) Isotope A:

^{7}_{3}\text{Li}

, atomic mass

=7.016003\,u

(b) Isotope B:

^{9}_{4}\text{Be}

, atomic mass

=9.012183\,u

^{11}_{5}\text{B}

, atomic mass

=11.009305\,u

(d) (i) For each isotope, calculate the mass of the nucleus by subtracting the masses of the orbital electrons. The mass of one electron is

0.0005486\,u

. (e) (ii) Using

m_{p}=1.007276\,u

and

m_{n}=1.008665\,u

, compute the mass defect per nucleon for each nucleus. (f) (iii) On the basis of your calculations, identify which of the three isotopes is expected to be the most stable. Justify your answer numerically.

Related theory

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

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