The mass of an atom of carbon-12 (Z = 6)is less than the mass of 6 protons and 6 neutrons because of
A)nuclear fission.
B)nuclear fusion.
C)neutron activation.
D)nuclear emission.
E)binding energy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mass of an atom is not simply the sum of the masses of its constituent protons, neutrons, and electrons. Rather, there is a small but significant difference between the sum of the masses of these individual particles and the actual mass of the atom. This difference is due to the energy that is required to hold the protons and neutrons together in the nucleus, known as the binding energy. In the case of carbon-12, the binding energy is significant enough that the mass of the atom is slightly lower than the sum of the masses of its six protons and six neutrons.

The Mass of an Atom of Carbon-12 (Z = 6)is