Nuclear Chemistry: ie ° Mass defect and nuclear binding energy The average binding energy per nucleon e Mason theory and nuclear forces. ¢ Radioactivity, Nuclear emission Nuclear transformation Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion ° Units of radioactivity, Artificial isotopes Radiocarbon dating Properties and uses of radioisotopes. Mass Defect Definition: The difference between the experimental and calculated masses of the nucleus is called the Mass defect or Mass deficit. © We know that atomic nucleus consists of protons and neutrons; collectively known as nucleons. * Itis found that the measured mass of nucleus is always less than the sum of the masses of the individual protons and neutrons which make it up. Let us take the example of helium, 4,He . It consists of two protons and two neutrons. Its mass may be calculated as : * mass of the protons = 2 x 1.00815 * mass of the neutrons = 2 = 1.00899 Total = 4.03428 © However, the experimental mass of the helium nucleus is only 4.00388. This is less by (4.03428 — 4.00388 =) 0.03040 amu, than that calculated above. This is called the mass defect of helium nucleus. Mass defect = (mass of protons + mass of neutrons) — (experimental mass of nucleus)Nuclear Binding Energy Atomic nucleus is made of protons and neutrons closely packed in a small volume. Although there exist intensive repulsive forces between the component protons, the nucleus is not split apart. This is so because the nucleons are bound to one another by very powerful forces. The energy that binds the nucleons together in the nucleus is called the Nuclear binding energy. When a nucleus is formed from individual protons and neutrons, there occurs a loss of mass (mass defect). According to Einstein’s theory, it is this mass defect which is converted into binding energy. Hence binding energy is the energy equivalent of the mass defect. Binding energy is a measure of the force that holds the nucleons together. Calculation of Binding Energy The binding energy of a nucleus can be calculated from its mass defect by using Einstein’s equation, AE = Am * ¢, Nuclear Binding Energy * Problem: What is the binding energy for '!,B nucleus if its mass defect is 0.08181 amu ? * Solution: AE = Am * c? «Einstein's equation Here, Am = 0.08181 g/mole, ¢ = 3 * 10! cm/sec Substituting values in Einstein's equation, AE = (0.08181 g/mole) (3 * 10!” cm/sec}? = 7.4 * 10" ergs/mole No. of nuclei in one mole is 6.02 x 10% (Avogadro’s Law). + Binding energy for '',B nucleus, AE, may be expressed as 714x109 6.02 x 107 Binding energy per nucleon: It can be calculated by dividing the total binding energy by the sum of the number of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus. _ Binding energy of nucleus = (12x 10-4)/11= Binding energy per nucleon = "8 SBStBY OF MUCISNS _ = (1.2x1 0/1 No. of protons +No. of neutrons 9.5194 erg/nucleow .2 x 1074 ergs/nucleusEnergy Released in Nuclear Reactions * According to Albert Einstein, mass can be converted into energy and vice versa. His famous equation relating mass and energy is E=me wD) where E = energy ; m= mass and c = velocity of light. + Innuclear reactions, a change in mass, Am, is accompanied by release of energy, JE. Thus equation (1) may be written as- AE = Ame? 2) [e = 3x10" cmsecl, AE(in ergs) = 9.0010 xAm (in grams) ..(3) sae th AE =9.00 x10” erg x 239210 =x am lerg AE (in kcal) = 2.15 * 10! Am (in grams) ..4) Ina nuclear reaction, the mass of the products is less than that of the reactants, The mass difference is converted into energy. Therefore by using equation (4), we can calculate the amount of energy released ina particular reaction 8 Energy Released in Nuclear Reactions For example, in the equation qi + 4H — > He + jHe + energy 7.160 1.0078 4.0026 4.0026 grams grams grams grams Mass difference = (7.016+1.0078) — (4.0026+4.0026) = 8.1678 — 8.0052 = 0.0186 g The atomic mass difference between the reactants and products is 0.0186 gram. Using equation (4) AE = 2.15 10! x Am = 2.15 x 10! x 0.0186 = 4.0 x 108k caloriesRelative Stability of Nuclei ° The greater the binding energy per nucleon the more stable is the nucleus. © The nuclei of about 60 atomic mass having maximum energy per nucleon are most stable e.g., ° Fe. The nuclei that are heavier or lighter than this have \ower binding energies per nucleon and are less stable. Thus °5U undergoes fission into lighter and more stable isotopes as !3°Ba and “Kr with the release of energy. Similarly two or more lighter nuclei ?H, 3H) with lower binding energy per nucleon combine or fuse together into a heavier and more stable nucleus. This is also accompanied by release of energy. so 1150 ~=«2b0 «SO Mass Number A curve of binding energy per nucleon versus mass numbers: Neutron-Proton Ratio and Nuclear Stability 40 g 3 Zz 5 5 2 20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 4 Number of Protons (p) ‘Neutron-proton ratios of stable nuclei if