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Iron has a stable nucleus, the most common isotope has 26 protons and 30 neutrons (Fe56). Elements around this point in the Periodic Table, like iron and nickel, have the highest binding energy of any nuclei, so they do not experience fission. Fission only ocurs with heavy nuclei such as U235 and PU 239 and a few others in that area, and when they fission they split into two fragments of elements which have higher binding energy. In these cases the total mass of the fission fragments is less than the mass of the original nucleus, and this is where the nuclear energy comes from, by E = mc2

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In the nucleus of what element does the nucleon have the least mass?

It is in the atoms of iron that the nucleons have the least mass. Nucleons in iron have the highest binding energy per nucleon of any element. Want to know what the relationship is? Good. Let's review.The nucleons of an atom are the protons and neutrons that make up the nucleus of that atom. Neutrons have a mass of about 1.67 x 10-27 kg, and protons are slightly lighter than neutrons. But when protons and neutrons are fused together to form atomic nuclei (like in fusion reactions in stars), some of the mass of each nucleon is converted into binding energy or nuclear glue. It might be preferable to say that residual strong force is what holds atomic nuclei together. In any case, the "drop in mass" associated with the conversion of that mass to binding energy is called mass deficit. There are a number of complexities involved in nuclear formation, and when we look at different elements, there are different binding energies set up (during fusion) to keep the different nuclei together. Let's look in on that just a bit by taking a couple of examples.In helium (He-4), two protons and two neutrons are bound together in the nucleus. Each of the nucleons has "donated" some mass, which mediation by the strong interaction changed into nuclear glue. Each nucleon could be said to have donated mHe to allow the nucleus to stay together. In oxygen (O-16) however, each nucleon donated mO to the process creating binding energy for the oxygen nucleus. The nucleons in oxygen donated more of their mass, and these nucleons end up with less mass per nucleon than the nucleons in helium. See how that works? But there's a catch. There always is, isn't there?When we look at the amount of mass deficit a nucleon undergoes in different elements as we move up the periodic table, we see that an increasing amount of the mass of nucleons is converted into binding energy, as you might have guessed. But that all stops at iron. Iron nuclei are the most tightly bound nuclei of all the elements. As we move on up the periodic table from there, we see a decreasing amount of mass deficit in each nucleon of atomic nuclei. And that's the way it is. Completely explaining why this occurs would fill a semester of college physics. Use the link below to see the graph of binding energy per nucleon across the elements. (Note that iron sits at the peak.)


What happens if two electrons are fused together?

Electrons cannot be fused together. They are fundamental particles that carry a negative charge and repel each other due to their like charges. Fusion typically involves atomic nuclei combining to form a heavier nucleus, not electrons.


What is the procces where two or more low mass nuclei fuse to form another nucleas?

No, two nuclei do not combine to form one nucleus in nuclear fission. It is the process of nuclear fusion that speaks to the combination of two nuclei to form one nucleus. The two nuclei are fused to form a new nucleus. Nuclear fission is the "breaking" or "splitting" of an atomic nucleus into two (or possibly more) smaller fragments.


What is the most stable atomic nucleus?

It is nickel-62 that is most stable atomic nuclei. The reason for this is based on what is in the nucleus of an atom and the way the nucleus of an atom is held together. Put on your thinking cap and let's look into the situation to see if we can make sense of things. We'll back up and do a bit of review.Protons and neutrons are fused together in atomic nuclei (hydrogen-1 with its lone proton nucleus being the exception). Nuclear binding energy (or residual strong force) holds the protons and neutrons (called nucleons when they are considered part of an atomic nucleus) all together. The strong force, you'll recall, is the force that holds individual quarks and gluons that make up the individual protons and neutrons. The nuclear glue that we mentioned is derived from a small fraction of the mass of eachnucleon, and each of the nucleons has had a bit of its mass converted into this binding energy.To find the "most stable" atomic nucleus, we need to find the one isotope of the element that has the highest binding energy per nucleon. And that particular isotope is nickel-62. A link can be found below for more information.


Why can't iron be fused to release energy?

Iron cannot be fused to release energy because it requires more energy to fuse iron atoms together than the energy that is released in the process. This is due to the fact that iron has the highest binding energy per nucleon of any element, making it less energetically favorable to fuse compared to lighter elements like hydrogen.

Related Questions

When a pair of hydrogen isotopes is fused is the mass of the product nucleus more or less the sum of the masses of the two hydrogen nuclei?

Because of conservation of matter the nucleus would weigh the same as the sum of the two isotopes.


What parts of an atom are used in Nuclear Fission?

During nuclear fission the atomic nucleus is splitted.


What gas is the center of the sun made of?

- hydrogen nuclei waiting to be fused into helium and - helium which has been fused from hydrogen nuclei


When the nuclei of hydrogen and lithium are fused together what element is produced?

When the nuclei of hydrogen and lithium are fused together, helium is produced.


How Nuclear Fusion Works?

The question is really way too imprecise, but fusion joins two nuclei together to form one heavier nucleus. The mass of the new nucleus is less than the sum of the two nuclei that were fused together, the "missing" mass appears as energy.


In the nucleus of what element does the nucleon have the least mass?

It is in the atoms of iron that the nucleons have the least mass. Nucleons in iron have the highest binding energy per nucleon of any element. Want to know what the relationship is? Good. Let's review.The nucleons of an atom are the protons and neutrons that make up the nucleus of that atom. Neutrons have a mass of about 1.67 x 10-27 kg, and protons are slightly lighter than neutrons. But when protons and neutrons are fused together to form atomic nuclei (like in fusion reactions in stars), some of the mass of each nucleon is converted into binding energy or nuclear glue. It might be preferable to say that residual strong force is what holds atomic nuclei together. In any case, the "drop in mass" associated with the conversion of that mass to binding energy is called mass deficit. There are a number of complexities involved in nuclear formation, and when we look at different elements, there are different binding energies set up (during fusion) to keep the different nuclei together. Let's look in on that just a bit by taking a couple of examples.In helium (He-4), two protons and two neutrons are bound together in the nucleus. Each of the nucleons has "donated" some mass, which mediation by the strong interaction changed into nuclear glue. Each nucleon could be said to have donated mHe to allow the nucleus to stay together. In oxygen (O-16) however, each nucleon donated mO to the process creating binding energy for the oxygen nucleus. The nucleons in oxygen donated more of their mass, and these nucleons end up with less mass per nucleon than the nucleons in helium. See how that works? But there's a catch. There always is, isn't there?When we look at the amount of mass deficit a nucleon undergoes in different elements as we move up the periodic table, we see that an increasing amount of the mass of nucleons is converted into binding energy, as you might have guessed. But that all stops at iron. Iron nuclei are the most tightly bound nuclei of all the elements. As we move on up the periodic table from there, we see a decreasing amount of mass deficit in each nucleon of atomic nuclei. And that's the way it is. Completely explaining why this occurs would fill a semester of college physics. Use the link below to see the graph of binding energy per nucleon across the elements. (Note that iron sits at the peak.)


Do proton-proton chain convert four hydrogen nuclei into one helium nucleus?

Yes, the proton-proton chain involves a series of nuclear reactions where four hydrogen nuclei (protons) are fused together to form one helium nucleus. This process releases energy in the form of gamma rays and solar neutrinos.


What happens if two electrons are fused together?

Electrons cannot be fused together. They are fundamental particles that carry a negative charge and repel each other due to their like charges. Fusion typically involves atomic nuclei combining to form a heavier nucleus, not electrons.


What is the product of a fusion reaction with the sun?

In the sun the product of the nuclear fusion is light energy and heat energy. It also created helium from the isotopes deuterium and tritium.


What happens when two nuclei that are heavier than iron are fused?

When two nuclei heavier than iron are fused, a tremendous amount of energy is released in the form of electromagnetic radiation and subatomic particles. This process is known as nuclear fusion and is the mechanism that powers stars, including our sun. It is also the process used in hydrogen bombs.


What is the procces where two or more low mass nuclei fuse to form another nucleas?

No, two nuclei do not combine to form one nucleus in nuclear fission. It is the process of nuclear fusion that speaks to the combination of two nuclei to form one nucleus. The two nuclei are fused to form a new nucleus. Nuclear fission is the "breaking" or "splitting" of an atomic nucleus into two (or possibly more) smaller fragments.


What takes place in the center of a star?

Fusion reactions. Hydrogen nuclei are fused to make helium nuclei.(Interesting categories...)