Given below are two statements:
Statement I : For all elements, greater the mass of the nucleus, greater is the binding energy per nucleon.
Statement II : For all elements, nuclei with less binding energy per nucleon transforms to nuclei with greater binding energy per nucleon.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Statement I : For all elements, greater the mass of the nucleus, greater is the binding energy per nucleon.
Statement II : For all elements, nuclei with less binding energy per nucleon transforms to nuclei with greater binding energy per nucleon.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- (A)Both Statement I and Statement II are true
- (B)Statement I is true but Statement II is false
- (C)Both Statement I and Statement II are false
- (D)Statement I is false but Statement II is true✓ Correct
Answer: (D)
Solution
The binding energy per nucleon does not rise steadily with nuclear mass; it increases up to the region of iron () and then falls for heavier nuclei, so the first statement is wrong. Energy-releasing nuclear processes, fusion of light nuclei and fission of heavy nuclei, always move the system towards nuclei of higher binding energy per nucleon, so the second statement is correct. Statement I is false but Statement II is true.
JEE Main · 2026 · 24 Jan 2026 · Shift 1 · Single correct option