Question

He-6 has an atomic mass of 6.025189 u. Calculate its binding energy.  

Calculate the binding energy per nucleon for He-6.

Answer 1

The He atom is composed of 2 protons, 2 neutrons and 2 electrons.

The actual mass, as measured by a mass spectrometer, is 4.002603 amu.

The difference (6.025189 - 4.002603) = 2.022586 amu

the binding energy is usually expressed in energy units of Mev (1 million electron volts). 931 MeV is approximately

equal to the mass of 1 amu. Thus, the mass of 2.022586 amu = 931 x 2.022586 = 1883 MeV

The binding energy of a He atom is 1883 MeV

he He atom is composed of 4 nucleons (2 protons + 2 neutrons),

so the average binding energy per nucleon is 1883 MeV/4 = 941.5 MeV.