NUCLEI

Composition of Nucleus:
Every atomic nucleus except that of Hydrogen has two types of particles –
protons and neutrons. (Nucleus of Hydrogen contains only one proton)
Proton is a fundamental particle with positive charge 1.6 x 10-19 C and
mass 1.67 x 10-27 kg (1836 times heavier than an electron).
Neutron is also a fundamental particle with no charge and
mass 1.675 x 10-27 kg (1840 times heavier than an electron).

Atomic Number (Z):

The number of protons in a nucleus of an atom is called
atomic number.

Atomic Mass Number (A):

The sum of number of protons and number of neutrons in a nucleus of an
atom is called atomic mass number.
A=Z+N
Atomic Mass Unit (amu):
Atomic Mass 1
Unit (amu)12is (1 / 12)th of mass of 1 atom of carbon.
1 amu = x g = 1.66 x 10-27 kg
12 6.023 x 1023
• Note:
• 1. Notation for nuclear species or nuclides Where X is
the chemical symbol of the species.

2. Isotopes have the same number of protons but

different number of neutrons
•
3. All nuclides with same mass number are called
isobars. Ex:3H1 and 3He2
•
4. Nuclides with same neutron number N but different
atomic number Z are called isotones
 Size of Nucleus:
Nucleus does not have a sharp or well-defined boundary. However, the
radius of nucleus can be given by

R = R0 A⅓ where R0 = 1.2 x 10-15 m ---- is a constant which is the

same for all nuclei and A is the mass number of the
nucleus.
Radius of nucleus ranges from 1 fm to 10 fm. (10-15m)
Nuclear Volume, V = (4/3) π R3 = (4/3) π R03 A

Hence, We can say V α R3 α A

Nucleus Density:
Mass of nucleus, M = A amu =
Nuclear Volume, A x 1.66 x 10-27
kg V = (4/3) π R3 =4 (4/3)22
π R0
= x x (1.2 x 10-15)3 A m3
A 3
3

7
= 7.24 x 10-45 A m3
Mass Defect in Alpha particle
 Mass Defect:

The difference between the sum of the masses of neutrons and protons
forming a nucleus and mass of the nucleus is called Mass Defect.

Δm = [ Zmp + (A – Z) mn ] – M

Mass defect per nucleon is called packing fraction.

 Binding Energy:
Binding Energy of a nucleus is the energy with which
nucleons are bound in the nucleus.
It is the energy required to break up a nucleus into its
constituent parts and place them at an infinite distance
from one another (Such that they cannot interact with each
other ).
B.E = Δm c2

B.E = {[ Zmp + (A – Z) mn ] – M} x c2

B.E (in MeV) = { Mass defect in a.m.u} x 931 MeV

Binding Energy per Nucleon:

It is the binding energy divided by total number of nucleons

It is denoted by B.

B = B.E / Nucleon = Δm c2 / A
Binding Energy per Nucleon curve
 Conclusion from the B.E per nucleon Graph

1. Binding energy per nucleon of very light nuclides such as 1H1, 1H2 , 1H3
is very small.

2. Initially, there is a rapid rise in the value of binding energy per

nucleon.

3. There are sharply defined peaks corresponding to 2He4, 6C12, 8O16

which represents that these nuclei are relatively more stable than
the other nuclei than the other neighbourhood.

4. After A = 20, there is a gradual increase in B.E. per nucleon. The

maximum value of 8.8 MeV for Fe (Iron).
5. Binding energy per nucleon of nuclides having mass numbers
ranging from 40 to 120 are close to the maximum value. So, these
elements are highly stable and non-radioactive.
6. Beyond A = 120, the value decreases and falls to 7.6 MeV for
Uranium. Hence heavy nuclei are relatively less stable.

7. Beyond A = 128, the value shows a rapid decrease. This makes

elements beyond Uranium quite unstable and radioactive.

8. When we move from the heavy nuclei region to the middle

region of the graph, there will be an increment in the overall
binding energy and hence energy is released. When a heavy
nucleus (A≈ 240) breaks into two roughly equal parts. This
process is called NUCLEAR FISSION.

9. When we move from lighter nuclei to heavier nuclei, we find that

there is an increment in the overall binding energy and hence
release of energy. This indicates that energy can be released
when two or more lighter nuclei fuse (mix) together to form a
heavy nucleus. This process is called NUCLEAR FUSION.
Q. Calculate the amount of energy released
during the alpha-decay of:
92U 238
------------> 90 Th 234
+ 2He4

Given: Mass of U = 238.05079 u ,

Mass of Th = 234.04363 u
Mass of He = 4.00260 u
Nuclear Force:
• Since stable nuclei exist. There must be certain force acting between
their nucleons that binds them into the nucleus. These are called
Nuclear Forces.

• Yukawa attributed to the following characteristics of the nuclear

forces:

1. Short ranges. ( i.e. order of 10-15m or less).

2. Nuclear forces are charge independent. (n-n, p-p, n-p)
3. Strongest known force in nature.
4. Nuclear force has Saturation property.
Which means nuclear forces are limited in range. As a result
each nucleon interacts with only a limited no. of nucleons nearest to it.
This effect is referred to as Saturation of Nuclear forces.
Variation of Potential energy (U in MeV) of a pair of nucleons as a function of
their separation (r)

• As the nucleons come closer

under the attractive nuclear
force, the potential energy
decreases (it becomes more
negative)
• After passing through a
minimum at r0~10-15 m (1fm) ,
the PE begins to increase.
• When the distance between
the nucleons falls appreciably
below
10-15 m, the nuclear force
becomes repulsive and
the PE increases rapidly.