Mass defect is the difference between the actual atomic mass and the predicted mass calculated by adding the mass of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus. The actual atomic mass is less than the predicted mass calculated by adding the masses of nucleons. This additional mass is accounted for by binding energy that is released when a nucleus is formed. When a nucleus is formed, some of the mass is converted to energy and this results in the mass defect. Due to this reason, the actual mass of an atomic nucleus is less than the mass of particles it is made up of.
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Answer:
Mass defect is the difference between the actual atomic mass and the predicted mass calculated by adding the mass of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus. The actual atomic mass is less than the predicted mass calculated by adding the masses of nucleons. This additional mass is accounted for by binding energy that is released when a nucleus is formed. When a nucleus is formed, some of the mass is converted to energy and this results in the mass defect. Due to this reason, the actual mass of an atomic nucleus is less than the mass of particles it is made up of.
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Answer:
Mass defect refers to the difference in mass between an atom and the sum of the masses of the protons, neutrons, and electrons of the atom.