Nuclear Binding Energy: Equal Proton-Neutron Ratio

[logearav]

Revered Members,
For Helium, Beryllium,Carbon,Oxygen and Neon, the Binding Energy per nucleon is more as evident from the sharp peaks observed in the graph plotted between BE and Mass number. These elements have equal number of protons and neutrons. When there is an inequality between proton number and neutron number, the BE per nucleon decreases and they become radioactive. What is the reason for large BE per nucleon in the cases of equal number of proton and neutron and less BE per nucleon in unequal number of proton and neutron?

 

[torquil]

Check out this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-empirical_mass_formula

Pay particular attention to "Coulomb Energy" and "Asymmetry energy". The page offers some physical arguments.

 

[bhollen76]

This is interesting too..
http://www.fastmr.com/prod/321066_advanced_clean_energy_storage_devices_global.aspx