1

12.1 Properties of nucleus

12.2 Binding energy and mass defect.
Chapter 12 : NUCLEUS
is defined as the
central core of an
atom that is
positively charged
and contains
protons and
neutrons.
(2 HOURS)
12.1 Properties of nucleus (1/2 Hour)
At the end of this topic, students should be
able to:
State the properties of proton and neutron
Define
Proton number
Nucleon number
Isotopes
Use to represent a nuclide

2
3
12.1 Properties of nucleus
A nucleus of an atom is made up of protons and
neutrons that is also known as nucleons.
A nucleus
~10
-15
m
4
12.1 Properties of nucleus
Properties of proton and neutron.
particle mass (kg) charge (C )
Proton,p +1.60 x 10
-19

Neutron,n (0) neutral
1.672 x 10
-27

1.675 x 10
-27

5
Proton number
defined as the number of protons in the nucleus.
also called as atomic number, Z.
Nucleon number
defined as the total number of neutrons and
protons in the nucleus.
also called as atomic mass number, A.
Isotopes
defined as the atoms of the
same element whose nuclei
contain the same number of
protons (Z) but different
number of neutrons (N).
hidrogen
deuterium
tritium
6
The atomic nucleus can be represented as
X
A
Z
where
X = symbol for the element
Z = atomic number (number of protons)
A = atomic mass number
= total number of protons and neutrons
Example :
Fe
56
26
Iron-56
26 protons
56 26 = 30 neutrons
A - Z = N
7
Element
nuclide
Number of
protons
Number of
neutrons
Number of
electrons
8 8 8
H
1
1
N
14
7
Na
23
11
Co
59
27
Be
9
4
O
16
8
S
31
16
Cs
133
55
U
238
92
Example 12.1
Complete the table below:
12.2 Binding energy and mass
defect (1 1/2 Hours)
At the end of this topic, students should be
able to:
Define and determine mass defect
Define and determine binding energy,

Identify the average value of binding
energy per nucleon of stable nuclei from
the graph of binding energy per nucleon
against nucleon number.

8
9
12.2 Binding energy and mass defect
defined as the energy required to
separate a nucleus into its individual
protons and neutrons without providing
them with kinetic energy.
Binding energy,E
An alternate interpretation of the binding
energy is the energy released (emitted)
when the nucleus is formed from its
individual nucleons.
10
p
n
n
p
p
p n
n
+ 28.30 MeV
To form a nucleus energy is released
p
p n
n
+ 28.30 MeV
p
n
n
p
To separate a nucleus energy is required
12.2 Binding energy and mass defect
11
12.2 Binding energy and mass defect
Mass defect m
defined as the difference between the sum of
the masses of individual nucleons that form
an atomic nucleus and the mass of the
nucleus.
( )
A n p
M Nm Zm m + =
proton a of mass :
p
m
nucleus a of mass =
A
M
neutron a of mass :
n
m
neutrons of number
protons of number
=
=
N
Z
12
The relationship between the binding energy
and mass defect is given by
2
mc E A =
binding energy
mass defect
speed of light
2
mc E A =
2
c
E
m = A
in joule
12.2 Binding energy and mass defect
In nuclear physics, mass is measured in unified
atomic mass unit (u).
2
1
c
MeV 931.5
u =
13
kg 10 1.66
931.5MeV

27 -
2
= =
c
u 1
( )
( )
kg 10 x 1.656
3x10
10 x 1.6 x10 931.5

MeV 931.5
u
27 -
8
19 - 6
=
=
=
2
2
1
c
J 10 x 1.6 eV 1
-19
=
12.2 Binding energy and mass defect
( ) | |
( ) | |
u
931.5MeV
A n p B
A n p B
M Nm Zm E
c M Nm Zm E
+ =
+ =
2
14
) number( Nucleon
) ( energy Binding
nucleon per energy Binding
A
E
B
=
The mean (average) binding energy of a nucleus is
callled binding energy per nucleon.
12.2 Binding energy and mass defect
2
mc E A =
A
mc
2
A
= nucleon per energy Binding
15
Example 12.2
a) Calculate the binding energy of the deuterium.

Given
u 1.008665 mass
u 1.007276 mass
u 2.013553 mass
1
0
1
1
=
= =
=
n
p H
H
1
1
2
1
( )
( ) ( ) | |
kg 10 x 3.96
) 10 x .66 0.002388(1
u 0.002388
2.013553 1.008665 1 1.007276 1

30 -
27 -
=
=
=
+ =
+ =
A n p
M Nm Zm m
16
( )( )
MeV 2.23
J 3.57x10
3x10 3.96x10
13
2
8 30
=
=
=
A =

E
E
E
mc E
2
( ) | |
( ) ( ) | |
MeV 2.22
MeV 931.5 2.013553 1.008665 1 1.007276 1
u
MeV 931.5
=
+ =
+ =
B
B
A n p B
E
E
M Nm Zm E
or
17
b) The binding energy of the neon is
160.647 MeV. Find its atomic mass.

Given
u 1.008665 mass
u 1.007825 mass
1
0
=
=
n
p
1
1
Ne
20
10
19.992 u
18
Example 12.3
Calculate the average binding energy per
nucleon of the iron-56 .

Given
( ) Fe
56
26
u 1.00867 mass
u 1.00782 mass
u 55.93494 mass
1
0
1
1
=
= =
=
n
p H
Fe
1
1
56
26
( )
( ) ( ) | |
kg 10 x 8.77
) 10 x 66 0.52848(1.
u 0.52848
55.93494 1.00867 30 1.00782 26

28 -
27 -
=
=
=
+ =
+ =
A n p
M Nm Zm m
19
( )( )
J/nucleon x10 1.41
56
10 x 3 10 x 8.77

nucleon per energy Binding
12 -
2
8 28 -
=
=
A
=
A
mc
2
or
E = 8.81 MeV/nucleon
20
Exercise
Determine the total binding energy and the
binding energy per nucleon for the nitrogen -14
nucleus .
Given
( ) N
14
7
u 1.008665 mass
u 1.007825 mass
u 14.003074 mass
1
0
1
1
=
= =
=
n
p H
N
1
1
14
7
104.6 MeV,7.47 MeV/nucleon
21
Mass number A
B
i
n
d
i
n
g

e
n
e
r
g
y

p
e
r

n
u
c
l
e
o
n

(
M
e
V
/
n
u
c
l
e
o
n
)

Greatest stability
Binding energy per nucleon as
a function of mass number,A
22
The binding energy per nucleon is a measure of
stability of the nucleus.
The greater the binding energy per nucleon, the
more stable the nucleus is.
For light nuclei, the value of E
B
/A rises rapidly
from 1 MeV/nucleon to 8 MeV/nucleon with
increasing mass number A.
From the graph:
For the nuclei with A between 50 and 80, the
value of E
B
/A ranges between 8.0 and 8.9
Mev/nucleon. The nuclei in these range are
very stable.
The nuclide has the largest binding
energy per nucleon (8.7945 MeV/nucleon).
Ni
62
28
23
For heavy nuclei with A between 200 to 240,
the binding energy is between 7.5 and 8.0
MeV/nucleon.These nuclei are unstable and
radioactive.
For nuclei with A > 62, the values of E
B
/A
decreases slowly, indicating that the nucleons
are on average, less tightly bound.
Hidrogen with one proton has no
binding energy per nucleon.