Nuclear Structure and Stability

energy

Binding ________: the ________ thats produced as a result of the formation of a nucleus FROM the mass loss.

Mass defect

the difference between the theoretical mass (sum of the protons and neutrons) and the actual mass

Binding energy

the energy thats produced as a result of the formation of a nucleus FROM the mass loss

Causes of instability

Too many protons.  No stable nucleus has more than 83 protons.

Too many neutrons per proton.

Too few neutrons for that number of protons. (rare)