How does the mass of an atomic nucleus compare with the sum of masses of its constituent nucleons separated?
A)The mass of a nucleus is larger than the sum of the masses of individual nucleons.
B)The mass of a nucleus is smaller than the sum of the masses of individual nucleons.
C)The mass of a nucleus is the same as the sum of the masses of individual nucleons.
D)The answer depends on the mass number of the element.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mass of a nucleus is smaller than the sum of the masses of its constituent nucleons when they are separated. This difference in mass is due to the binding energy that holds the nucleons together within the nucleus, according to the mass-energy equivalence principle (E=mc^2). This phenomenon is known as the mass defect.

How Does the Mass of an Atomic Nucleus Compare with the Sum