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The mass of an atomic nucleus other than H is: A - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 5 - 2002 - Paper 1
Question 5
The mass of an atomic nucleus other than H is: A. equal to the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons. B. slightly less than the sum of the masses ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The mass of an atomic nucleus other than H is: A - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 5 - 2002 - Paper 1
Step 1
B. slightly less than the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons.
Answer
The mass of an atomic nucleus is typically slightly less than the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons due to the binding energy that holds the nucleus together. This is a consequence of the mass-energy equivalence principle from Einstein's theory of relativity, where the binding energy corresponds to a loss of mass, thereby making the actual mass of the nucleus less.