The difference between the experimentally determined mass and the sum of the masses of all protons, neutrons , and electrons of an atom is known as the ____.

Question

The difference between the experimentally determined mass and the sum of the masses of all protons, neutrons , and electrons  of an atom is known as the ____.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mass defect is the difference between the mass of an atom and the sum of the masses of its protons, neutrons, and electrons. This difference arises because some mass is converted into binding energy that holds the nucleus together.

The Difference Between the Experimentally Determined Mass and the Sum