g The most stable nucleon in terms of binding energy per nucleon is 56Fe. If the atomic mass of Fe-56 is 55.9349 amu, calculate the binding energy in J/nucleon and in Mev/nucleon for Fe-56. The atomic mass of a proton is 1.00782 amu and the atomic mass of a neutron is 1.00866 amu. Would the binding energy per nucleon for U-235 be larger or smaller than that of Fe-56

The binding energy per nucleon of U-235 is lesser than that Fe-56

Explanation:

The binding energy refers to the energy required to hold the nucleons together in the nucleus of an atom.

It also corresponds to the energy that must be supplied in order to disintegrate the nucleus of an atom.

The binding energy per nucleon of elements depends on the number of nucleons present in the nucleus of the atom of that element. It is defined as the binding energy of the nucleus divided by the number of nucleons.

U-235 contains more nucleons than Fe-56, the binding energy per nucleon of U-235 is less than that of Fe-56. This is further confirmed by the fact that the greater the number of protons in the nucleus, the greater the coulumbic repulsion in the nucleus and the lesser the nuclear force of attraction between nucleons.