The packing fraction of a nuclide is related to the fraction of the total mass of a nuclide that is converted to nuclear binding energy. It is defined as the fraction 1M - A₂/A, where M is the actual nuclidic mass and A is the mass number. Use data from a handbook (such as the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, published by the CRC Press) to determine the packing fractions of some representative nuclides. Plot a graph of packing fraction versus mass number, and compare it with Figure 25-6. Explain the relationship between the two.

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Binding energy per nucleon, MeV 201 9.0- 8.0- 7.0- 6.0- 5.0- 4.0- 3.0- 2.0 Note change of scale 1.0- c- He Fusion Fission |||| 1 1 1 1 4 8 1216 20 40 60 80 I 100 1 1 1 1 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 Mass number 1 260