Question

What is the binding energy of an electron?

Answer 1

1. When protons and neutrons combine to form a nucleus and then the mass that disappears $\left(∆\mathrm{m}\right)$ is converted into the equivalent amount of energy $∆{\mathrm{mc}}^2$ is called binding energy.
   $$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Binding}\mathrm{energy}=∆{\mathrm{mc}}^2 \\ \mathrm{Where}∆\mathrm{m}=\mathrm{change}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{mass} \\ \mathrm{c}=\mathrm{velocity}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{light} \end{gathered}$$
2. Binding energy (BE) is also defined as the energy required to remove or separate the smallest particle from an atom may it be an electron ( from the shell) or proton or neutron from the nucleus. Thus, the amount of energy given to an electron to pull it out from its force of attraction away from the nucleus is known as Binding energy.
3. . Thus, if the attraction between the electron and the nucleus increases, binding Energy also increases.
4. It is also known as Ionization Potential (IP)
5. It is applicable in the case of only one electron which is by the Schrodinger equation. If more than one electrons are present then the additional repulsive forces are applied which require less energy to remove it away from the nucleus and make it complicated and unsolvable analytically.
6. The binding energy of electrons predicts their stability against disintegration. More the binding energy more stable the nucleus and vice versa
7. The binding energy curve is a plot between Mass number and binding energy per nucleon. The X-axis represents the mass number and Y-axis represents the Binding energy.
8. Binding energy increased sharply up to mass number 20. When $\mathrm{A}<20$there is the existence of recurrence of the peak of those nuclei which have not only equal number of protons and neutrons even they have also even number of protons and neutrons. Example ${}_2{}^4\mathrm{He}$, ${}_4{}^8\mathrm{Be}$ etc. Between the mass numbers 40 to 120, the curve becomes flattened.
9. After 120, as A increases binding energy decreases gradually.
10. When the binding energy of the heaviest as well as lightest elements is less it predicts nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.