Textbook Question
The nuclide 18F decays by both electron capture and β+ decay. Find the difference in the energy released by these two processes. The atomic masses are 18F = 18.000950 and 18O = 17.9991598.
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21. Nuclear Chemistry
Nuclear Binding Energy
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Determine the binding energy of an O-16 nucleus. The O-16 nucleus has a mass of 15.990526 amu. A proton has a mass of 1.007276 amu, and a neutron has a mass of 1.008665 amu. Use the conversion factor 1 amu = 931.5 MeV/c².
A
129.3 MeV
B
123.4 MeV
C
127.6 MeV
D
131.8 MeV
Verified step by step guidance1
Calculate the total mass of the protons in the O-16 nucleus. Since oxygen has an atomic number of 8, it contains 8 protons. Multiply the mass of a proton (1.007276 amu) by 8.
Calculate the total mass of the neutrons in the O-16 nucleus. The O-16 nucleus has 16 nucleons in total, so it contains 16 - 8 = 8 neutrons. Multiply the mass of a neutron (1.008665 amu) by 8.
Add the total mass of the protons and the total mass of the neutrons to find the expected mass of the nucleus if there were no binding energy.
Subtract the actual mass of the O-16 nucleus (15.990526 amu) from the expected mass calculated in the previous step to find the mass defect.
Convert the mass defect from amu to energy using the conversion factor 1 amu = 931.5 MeV/c² to find the binding energy of the O-16 nucleus.
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