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Which of the following nuclei is most stable based on its binding energy?

A. Silver (Ag – 107)

B. Nitrogen (N – 15)

C. Gold (Au – 197)

D. Nickel (Ni – 58)

Which of the following nuclei is most stable based on its binding energy? A. Silver-example-1
User Monay
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We have that the most stable nuclei are the ones with the highest average binding energy. We see that Nitrogen has a mass number of 15 and that in this region of the graph average binding energy is low. Silver and Gold are along a line where there is a constant decline in average binding energy; silver has more than gold. However, we see that at the start of this decline, there is Fe 56. This region has the elements with the highest average binding energy; Nickel with a mass number of 58 is right there and thus it is the most stable nucleus out of the listed ones.
User Barry Meijer
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