The mass defect is the result of what action occurring?

a. energy being converted into moles of atoms when neutrons break apart protons

b. mass being converted to energy when protons and neutrons bind together in a nucleus

c. mass being converted to energy when protons and neutrons break apart in a nucleus

d. protons and electrons being attracted to each other

e. strong forces overcoming weak forces

B. mass being converted to energy when protons and neutrons bind together in a nucleus

Answer;

B. mass being converted to energy when protons and neutrons bind together in a nucleus

Explanation;The mass defect of a nucleus refers to the mass of the energy binding the nucleus. This energy is given by the difference between the mass of a nucleus and the sum of the masses of the nucleons of which it is composed.Mass defect is energy mass that is removed from the total mass of the original particles when a nucleus is formed. This mass is missing in the resulting nucleus and represent the energy lost when the nucleus is formed.