An extremely Novice energy question

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The discussion centers on the concept of mass and energy in relation to e=mc², specifically addressing the mass before and after food consumption. It highlights that while the mass of both states appears equal, the less energetic state has a slight mass deficit due to energy changes. This mass deficit is measurable in nuclear reactions but too small to detect in chemical reactions. Advanced technologies, like FTICR mass spectrometers, can measure very small mass differences, but measuring the electronic mass defect in chemical reactions remains challenging. The conversation emphasizes the nuances of mass-energy relationships in both chemical and nuclear contexts.
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I'm sure this has been thoroughly answered, so I'm sorry.
So, you have e=mc2, yet when you have food (or anything) before consumption and after consumption, the mass of both atomic states is equal, yet the form of the former state (before consumption) gives the mass more energy potential than the latter state.
?
 
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khz said:
the mass of both atomic states is equal
Actually, the mass is slightly less in the less energetic state. This is called "mass deficit". The difference is very small for chemical reactions.
 
oh wow thanks. Are you aware if this effect has been measured?
 
Yes, for nuclear reactions. To my knowledge it is too small to measure for chemical reactions.
 
DaleSpam said:
Yes, for nuclear reactions. To my knowledge it is too small to measure for chemical reactions.

Actually, very high resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometers can already reproducibly measure mass differences that are significantly smaller than the electron mass. I have seen at least one experiment proposed to measure the "electronic mass defect" associated with a chemical reaction, however I think the technology was still not quite adequate to the task.
 

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