2H is a loosely bound isotope of hydrogen. Called deuterium or heavy hydrogen, it is stable but relatively rare-it is 0.015% of natural hydrogen. Note that deuterium has Z = N, which should tend to make it more tightly bound, but both are odd numbers. Calculate BE/A, the binding energy per nucleon, for ²H and compare it with the approximate value obtained from the graph in Figure 31.24.

Data from figure 31.24

Transcribed Image Text:

Binding energy per nucleon (MeV per nucleon) BE A 9 8 6 5 4 3 2 20 Ne 160 0 He 1 ¹2H 24Mg Ca 50 62 Ni Zn Kr Mo 100 Te Atomic mass Sm 150 LU Hg 200 7.6 Ra 2U A