For each of the following nuclei, determine the binding energy per nucleon (in MeV). (For all masses, keep six places beyond the decimal point when performing your calculations. Then round your final answer to at least three significant figures.)(a) 21 MeV (b) 4He MeV (c) 180 MeV (d) 23Na MeV

(a) BE = 1.112 MeV

               (b) BE = 7.074 MeV

               (c) BE = 7.767 MeV

               (d) BE = 8.112 MeV

Explanation: Binding energy per nucleon is the average energy necessary to remove a proton or a neutron from the nucleus of an atom. It is mathematically defined as:

Where

Δm is a difference in mass known as mass defect

A is atomic mass of an atom.

Mass Defect is determined by:

where:

Z is atomic number

is mass of proton

is mass of neutron

is mass of the nucleus

Mass of proton is 1.007825u.

Mass of neutron is 1.008665u.

The unit u is equal to 931.5MeV/c².

(a) 2H(deuterion): Given: Z = 1; A = 2; = 2.014102u

BE = 1.112MeV

(b) 4He (Helium): Given: Z = 2; A = 4; = 4.002603

BE = 7.074MeV

(c) 18O (Oxygen): Given: Z = 8; A = 18; = 17.999160

BE = 7.767MeV

(d) 23Na (Sodium): Given: Z = 11; A = 23; = 22.989767

BE = 8.112MeV

since the atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus, as we move to the left on the periodic table, the electrostatic pull between the nucleus and the valence electron shell decreases. as we move down a group (vertical column), the valence shell energy level gets further and further from the nucleus.