Easy question, why does iron have the highest binding energy? It would seem like a normal question, that is totally unexplainable, using the standard model.
If you imagine the neutrons like a glue (i.e. the strong force) holding the protons together, like the chocolate in a rice krispie cookie, then at the low end of the atomic number scale there is not enough glue (not enough neutrons), so less binding energy. At the high end of the scale, the mass of the nucleons is beginning to overpower the glue, despite the extra neutrons, and so the nucleus tends to fall apart with alpha emission and spontaneous fission. So it is iron in the middle where the amount of neutron "glue" is working best. The nucleus might have some quantum ordering of states, as suggested by the so-called "magic numbers" of nucleons which indicate stability.
Hi, thank you for the helpful video!! I have the Tsokos textbook (2015), where they say that the most stable nucleus is nickel-62? Google agrees with you, but the textbook says something different - which element does the IB want us to remember?
Much better than most!
The Walton-Cockcroft experiment demonstrates this very well.
Awesome explanation 💯
Very well explained
Easy question, why does iron have the highest binding energy? It would seem like a normal question, that is totally unexplainable, using the standard model.
I have to admit I don't know! Would be excited to hear about it if you find any good resources on this.
If you imagine the neutrons like a glue (i.e. the strong force) holding the protons together, like the chocolate in a rice krispie cookie, then at the low end of the atomic number scale there is not enough glue (not enough neutrons), so less binding energy. At the high end of the scale, the mass of the nucleons is beginning to overpower the glue, despite the extra neutrons, and so the nucleus tends to fall apart with alpha emission and spontaneous fission. So it is iron in the middle where the amount of neutron "glue" is working best.
The nucleus might have some quantum ordering of states, as suggested by the so-called "magic numbers" of nucleons which indicate stability.
Hi, thank you for the helpful video!! I have the Tsokos textbook (2015), where they say that the most stable nucleus is nickel-62? Google agrees with you, but the textbook says something different - which element does the IB want us to remember?
Textbook's definitely wrong. All IB test questions I've seen have iron as the most stable
Thanks
Sir