Features of the Curve
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(i) The average binding energy/nucleon for light nuclei like 1H1, 1H2, 1H3 is small.
(ii) For mass numbers ranging from two to twenty, the sharply defined peaks correspond to nuclei, which are relatively more stable than the neighborhood nuclei.
(iii) The binding energy curve has a broad maximum in the range
A = 30 to 120 and corresponds to 8.5 MeV.
(iv) As mass number increases, the binding energy/nucleon decreases gradually. This is due to Colombian repulsion between the protons and therefore heavy nuclei are relatively less stable.
Importance of Binding Energy Curve
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(i) The decrease in the binding energy/nucleon at high mass numbers tells us that nucleons are more lightly bound when they are assembled into two middle mass nuclei than in a single high mass nucleus. Therefore, energy can be released in nuclear fission of a single massive nucleus into smaller fragments.
(ii) Smaller values of binding energy/nucleon for nuclei of low mass numbers indicates that energy can be released if two nuclei of small mass numbers combine to form a single middle mass nucleus. This process is the reverse of nuclear fission and is called nuclear fusion.
