Iron-56, ⁵⁶₂₆Fe, has a binding energy per nucleon of 8.79 MeV. (1 MeV = 1.60 × 10⁻¹³ J).

Question

Determine the amount of energy, in J, needed to 'decompose' 1 mol of iron-56 nuclei into the individual nucleons.

Answer 1

Fe⁵⁶ has 56 nucleons

56 nucleons x 8.79 MeV / nucleon = 492.24 MeV

492.24 MeV x 1.60x10^-13 J / MeV = 7.88x10^-11 J