Binding energy

[Plumbum]

Hi everyone

I have difficulties with the binding energy and I hope that somebody can help me out! The task is to order these atoms by their binding energy ( from lowest zo highest)
The atoms are C, Si, Ge, Pb, Sn and I should explain why. So I ordered them this way : Pb,Sn,Ge,Si,C
due to electronegativitiy.

I'm really not sure , if its correct this way , please help me out.

thank u !

[studiot]

This is homework then?

 

Binding energy is the energy that holds the nucleus together, hence the question is about atoms.

 

It is the release of binding energy that allows lighter atoms to undergo nuclear fusion and heavier ones to undergo nuclear fission.

 

There is a maximum around nickel - iron the the periodic table, which divides prospective fission or fusion.

 

Read this and come back if you still cannot complete your homework.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_binding_energy

Edited September 5, 2014 by studiot

[Sensei]

I'm really not sure , if its correct this way , please help me out.

 

No.

I don't think so, if you meant "nuclear binding energy".

You should calculate decay energy of the all isotopes of the all mentioned elements for the all possible case of decay (or at least for proton, neutron and alpha decay).

For stable isotope, decay energy is negative value. And that's energy you need to spend to separate nucleus to smaller parts.

Then you can sort them in right order.

 

f.e. binding energy for isotope Carbon-12 is different than for isotope Carbon-13. Either one are stable.

 

But it's awful lot of work.

Tin for example has 10 stable isotopes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotopes_of_tin

 

You should ask your teacher whether he meant "average nuclear binding energy per nucleon".

 

If so, you should calculate energy of the all free protons and free neutrons in isotope with Z protons and A-Z neutrons. Subtract from it nucleus energy (isotope mass * c^2 - mass-energy of the all electrons).

(after dividing it by A, you have average binding energy per nucleon).

Edited September 5, 2014 by Sensei

[DeathShallWait]

This is the first time I come across the term "Binding energy" so I did some reading as I was interested. So I wouldn't know if this is right or wrong, you are very welcome to criticize as it gives me a better idea.
The order you did is correct, but you shouldn't do it by electronegativity (or I do no clearly). The binding energy is calculated by atomic mass.
http://www.chem.purdue.edu/gchelp/howtosolveit/Nuclear/nuclear_binding_energy.htm#Energyequivalent

[swansont]

You posted this in Chemistry but binding energy is nuclear physics terminology. Can you clarify if you are looking at atomic structure (i.e. electron energy) or nuclear structure?

[Waleed]

you should calculate energy of the all free protons and free neutrons in isotope with Z protons and A-Z neutrons.