Consider the carbon atom whose nuclear mass is 11.996amu.calculat mass defect when proton=1.00728amu,neutron=1.00867amu
To calculate the mass defect of a carbon atom, we first need to determine the total mass of the protons and neutrons in the atom, and then subtract the actual mass of the carbon atom from this value.
The mass of a proton is approximately 1.00728 atomic mass units (amu), and the mass of a neutron is approximately 1.00867 amu. Carbon-12 is the most common isotope, with 6 protons and 6 neutrons, for a total of 12 atomic mass units. However, the nuclear mass of carbon-12 is given as 11.996 amu.
To find the mass defect, we subtract the actual mass of the carbon atom from the sum of the individual masses of its protons and neutrons:
Mass defect = (mass of protons + mass of neutrons) - actual mass of the atom
Mass of protons = 6 protons * 1.00728 amu/proton = 6.04368 amu
Mass of neutrons = 6 neutrons * 1.00867 amu/neutron = 6.05102 amu
Actual mass of carbon = 11.996 amu
Mass defect = (6.04368 amu + 6.05102 amu) - 11.996 amu
Therefore, the mass defect of the carbon atom is approximately 0.0987 amu (rounded to four decimal places).