The nuclide at the top of the "relative stability of nucleus versus mass number" curve is
A) iron-56.
B) uranium-235.
C) uranium-238.
D) helium-4.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Iron-56 (Fe-56) is known to be the most stable nuclide, meaning it has the highest binding energy per nucleon, which places it at the peak of the curve that describes nuclear stability versus mass number. This makes it the most energetically favorable nucleus and explains why nuclear fusion processes in stars do not proceed beyond iron in a significant way under normal stellar conditions.

The Nuclide at the Top of the "Relative Stability of Nucleus