The curve of blinding energy per nucleon as a function of atomic mass number has a sharp peak for helium nucleus. This implies that helium.

Options

A. can easily be broken up
B. is very stable
C. can be used as fissionable material
D. is radioactive

Answer

A

Explanation

Binding energy of a nucleus containing N neutrons and Z protons is
`BE=[NM_(n)+ZM_(p)-M(A,Z)]c^(2)`
`implies (BE)/(c^(2))=NM_(n)+ZM_(p)-M(A,Z)`
`implies (BE)/(c^(2))=(A-Z)M_(n)+ZM_(p)-M(A,Z)` (as, N=A-Z)
`implies M(A,Z)=ZM_(p)+(A-Z)_(n)-BE//c^(2)`