The nucleus with the larger binding energy per nucleon is A) ²³⁸U. B) ¹⁹⁷Au. C) ⁶²Ni. D) ⁴He. E) ²H.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni) isotopes are known to have among the highest binding energies per nucleon, indicating that their nuclei are extremely stable. Among the options given, nickel (Ni, atomic number 28) is the closest to this peak of stability. Therefore, it would have a larger binding energy per nucleon compared to the other elements listed, which are uranium (U, atomic number 92), gold (Au, atomic number 79), helium (He, atomic number 2), and hydrogen (H, atomic number 1).

The Nucleus with the Larger Binding Energy Per Nucleon Is