Question

Sun is producing energy by nuclear fusion reactions converting four hydrogen nuclei to form one nucleus of 4He, i.e. 4H → 4He. However, mass of helium nucleus is smaller than that of four hydrogens and this difference is called mass defect. If mass of the hydrogen nucleus is mH and mass of the helium nucleus mHe mass defect of one nuclear reaction ∆m is equal to

Answer 1

∆m = [ Z (mp + me) + ( A-Z ) mn] - M

Step-by-step explanation:

Mass defect:

Sum of masses of electron, neutrons and protons are greater than the experimental value of atomic masses of specific isotope.

This difference of observed isotopic mass and calculated mass of an atom is known as mass defect.

Mass Defect Calculation:

The mass defect can be calculated by the following formula

∆m = [ Z (mp + me) + ( A-Z ) mn] - M

where

Δm=mass defect (amu)

Z= number of protons (atomic number)

mp=mass of a proton (1.007277 amu)

me=mass of an electron (0.000548597 amu)

mn=mass of a neutron (1.008665 amu)

A= number of proton and neutrons (mass number)

M=mass of atom (amu)