The mass of ²³⁸U is not quite an integer multiple of ¹H mass.This is primarily because A)the proton and neutron have different masses. B)there are several isotopes of uranium. C)of the binding energy of uranium. D)uranium is radioactive.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mass of an atomic nucleus is less than the combined mass of its individual protons and neutrons because of the binding energy that holds the nucleus together. The binding energy per nucleon is different for different elements, and uranium has a particularly high binding energy per nucleon. This means that the mass of a uranium nucleus is significantly less than the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons. Therefore, the mass of ²³⁸U is not quite an integer multiple of ¹H mass.

The Mass of 238U Is Not Quite an Integer Multiple

The Mass of ²³⁸U Is Not Quite an Integer Multiple