Binding energy of a nucleus is.

Options

A. Energy given to its nucleus during its formation.
B. Total mass of nucleus converted to energy units
C. Loss of energy from the the nucleus during its formation
D. Total `K.E` and `P.E` of the nucleous in the nucleus.

Explanation

### Step-by-Step Solution

1. **Understanding Binding Energy**:
- Binding energy is the energy required to separate the nucleus into its individual protons and neutrons. It can also be understood as the energy released when a nucleus is formed from its constituent particles.

2. **Formula for Binding Energy**:
- The binding energy (BE) can be calculated using the formula:
\[ BE = \Delta M \cdot c^2 \]
- Here, \(\Delta M\) is the mass defect, and \(c\) is the speed of light.

3. **Calculating Mass Defect (\(\Delta M\))**:
- The mass defect is defined as the difference between the mass of the individual nucleons (protons and neutrons) and the actual mass of the nucleus. It can be expressed as:
\[ \Delta M = Z \cdot M_p + (A - Z) \cdot M_n - M_{\text{nucleus}} \]
- Where:
- \(Z\) is the number of protons,
- \(A\) is the mass number (total number of nucleons),
- \(M_p\) is the mass of a proton,
- \(M_n\) is the mass of a neutron,
- \(M_{\text{nucleus}}\) is the mass of the nucleus.

4. **Energy Release During Nucleus Formation**:
- When nucleons come together to form a nucleus, there is a loss of mass, which is converted into energy. This energy is released as binding energy.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the binding energy of a nucleus is the energy that is released when the nucleus is formed from its constituent particles, indicating that energy is lost during this process.

### Final Answer
The binding energy of a nucleus is the energy released during its formation from protons and neutrons, calculated using the mass defect and the formula \(BE = \Delta M \cdot c^2\).