Nuclides: Highest or Lowest Binding Energy Most Stable?

[tandoorichicken]

Out of a set of nuclides, is the one with the highest or lowest binding energy the most stable?

 

[Moonbear]

What do you think and why? We can only help if you show your work first.

 

[tandoorichicken]

This isn't the actual homework question, I just need to be sure in order to do a more complicated problem. My guess is that the more stable nuclides would have a higher binding energy, so that they give off more energy when coming together, hence having the lowest possible energy when the dust settles. But then, I might have completely missed the mark.

 

[Astronuc]

That's about right. The more energy given off in coming together means that the nucleons are (or nucleus is) at a lower energy state.

For future reference - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/nucbin.html