Stability of Products: Nuclear binding energy vs Enthelpy

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the stability of products in nuclear fusion compared to chemical reactions, specifically focusing on the concepts of nuclear binding energy and enthalpy. Participants explore the relationship between these energies and the stability of the resulting products in both nuclear and chemical processes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why nuclear fusion results in a more stable nucleus when its binding energy per nucleon is higher than that of the reactants, contrasting this with chemical reactions where products are more stable if their enthalpy is lower than that of the reactants.
  • Another participant explains that binding energy is the energy required to separate a nucleus, suggesting it is inversely related to enthalpy, which measures total energy.
  • A participant proposes that higher binding energy in nuclei corresponds to greater stability, likening it to bond strength in chemical species.
  • There is a query about whether a more stable nucleus with higher binding energy would also have lower 'nuclear enthalpy.'
  • One participant asserts that the mass of Deuterium is less than the combined mass of its constituent particles, implying a relationship to enthalpy.
  • Another participant cautions that less mass does not universally imply less enthalpy, using Deuterium and Iron as examples to illustrate that context matters in these comparisons.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between mass, binding energy, and enthalpy, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the need for context when discussing mass and enthalpy, suggesting that definitions and comparisons are crucial to understanding the concepts being debated.

physickkksss
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I want to get my head around this...

Why is that in nuclear fusion, the formed nucleus is more stable because its nuclear binding energy/nucleon is HIGHER than the sum of its reactants

But

in general chemical reactions products are more stable if their enthalpy is LOWER than the sum of their reactants


I know that in both cases: bonds are formed, the products are more stable, and energy is released...so it has something to do with the definitions of what is +ve and -ve

But I'm trying to connect the dots here, and would appreciate any help :)

Thanks!
 
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Binding energy refers to the energy needed to pull the nucleus apart. It is the inverse of Enthalpy which is a measure of the total energy of something. The higher the binding energy of a nucleus, the less energy it contains compared to its parts before fusion, as it released more energy during binding.
 
Drakkith said:
Binding energy refers to the energy needed to pull the nucleus apart. It is the inverse of Enthalpy which is a measure of the total energy of something. The higher the binding energy of a nucleus, the less energy it contains compared to its parts before fusion, as it released more energy during binding.

I think i get it know...the bolded part is the key.

Binding energy is actually equivalent to what we would call 'bond strength' in general chemical species.


What is the equivalent of enthalpy for a nucleus though? Can we say more stable (higher binding energy) nucleus has lower 'nuclear enthalpy' too?
 
I would say yes. The mass of an atom of Deuterium is LESS than a proton, neutron, and electron combined when they are free.
 
Can you say less mass would imply less enthalpy?
 
physickkksss said:
Can you say less mass would imply less enthalpy?

Only in the right context. Deuterium has much less mass than Iron, but it is able to give off energy when it is fused, while Iron does not. So it just depends on what you are comparing and how.
 
cool...thanks for the replies
 

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