The packing fraction of an element is a measure of its stability and is defined relative to its mass — Nuclear Chemistry and Radioactivity Chemistry Question
Question
The packing fraction of an element is a measure of its stability and is defined relative to its mass number. Given that Carbon-12 is the universal reference standard on the atomic scale, what is the exact packing fraction value of the ${}_{6}^{12}C$ isotope?
Answer: 0
💡 Solution & Explanation
Packing Fraction = $\frac{\text{Actual isotopic mass} - \text{Mass number}}{\text{Mass number}} \times 10^4$. For Carbon-12, the actual isotopic mass is exactly 12 by definition, and its mass number is 12. Therefore, $\frac{12 - 12}{12} \times 10^4 = 0$.
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