Find the nuclear binding energy of potassium-40 (atomic mass = 39.9632591 amu) in units of joules per nucleon. [Data: neutron mass

= 1.674928 ´ 10^-24 g; proton mass = 1.672623 ´ 10^-24 g; electron

mass = 9.109387 ´ 10^-28 g; NA = 6.0221367 ´ 10^23 /mol; c =

2.99792458 ´ 10^8 m/s]

Substituting the equation:

E = (0.367 g/mol)(1 mol/6.022 x 10^23 nucleons)(1 kg/1000 g)(3 x 10^8 m/s)^2

E = 3.3 x10^13 J/nucleon

Explanation:

To solve this, we use Einstein's famous equation: E=mc^2, where c is the speed of light (300 million m/s). E is the nuclear binding energy and m is the mass defect. To compute form, we find the difference of potassium's atomic mass and the mass of its subparticles.

Potassium has an atomic number of 19, meaning it has 19 protons. The mass number is 40. Then, the amount of neutrons = 40 - 19 =21. Lastly, for a neutral atom, it has equal number of protons and electrons. So, electrons = 19. Solving for the mass of its subparticles:

[19(1.672623 × 10–24 g) + 19(9.109387 × 10–28 g) + 21(1.674928 × 10–24 g)](6.022 x 10^23 amu/ 1 g) = 40.32979519

Therefore, mass defect = 40.32979519 - 39.9632591 = 0.367 amu or g/mol

Substituting the equation:

E = (0.367 g/mol)(1 mol/6.022 x 10^23 nucleons)(1 kg/1000 g)(3 x 10^8 m/s)^2

E = 3.3 x10^13 J/nucleon

in 1783 cavendish was working with his hydrogen gas and found that when he burned it and condensed the vapor it was water. this was very significant since it disproved the greek theory of elements completely since water was not a simple substance but the product of two gases. it was lavoisier who hearing of the experiment gave cavendish's gas the name hydrogen ("water-producer") and added that hydrogen burned by combining with oxygen and that water was a hydrogen-oxygen combination.

explanation: