Question

the energy required to separate the 3 protons and 4 neutrons in the nucleus of a lithium atom is 39.3 megaelectronvolts. determine the mass equivalent of this energy in universal units

Answer 1

The number of protons or neutrons here don't matter as the energy required is given, which is 39.3 megaelectronvolts (MeV). Using the relation 1 u = 931 MeV, we can convert it to universal mass units. This is shown below:

39.3 MeV x (1 u / 931 MeV) = 0.04221 u