Assuming the experimental mass of ¹²₆C as 12 u , the mass defect of ¹²₆C atom is _______ MeV /c^2 . (Mass of proton = 1.00727 u , mass of neutron = 1.00866 u , 1 u = 931.5 MeV /c^2 and c is the speed of the light in vacuum).

Step-by-step solution

The mass of 6 protons is 6 1.00727 u = 6.04362 u . The mass of 6 neutrons is 6 1.00866 u = 6.05196 u . Total mass of the constituent nucleons is 6.04362 u + 6.05196 u = 12.09558 u . The mass defect m is the difference between the total mass of the nucleons and the experimental mass of the atom (ignoring electron mass as per the given data): m = 12.09558 u - 12 u = 0.09558 u Converting the mass defect into MeV /c^2 : m = 0.09558 931.5 MeV /c^2 = 89.03277 MeV /c^2 89.03 MeV /c^2 Answer: 89.03