Question:
Calculate the minimum energy needed to separate a neutron from a nucleus with Z protons and $\mathrm{N}$ neutrons in terms of the masses $\mathrm{M}_{\mathrm{Z}, \mathrm{N}}, \mathrm{M}_{\mathrm{Z}, \mathrm{N}-1}$ and the mass of the neutron.
Solution:
Energy released $=($ Initial mass of nucleus-Final mass of nucleus $) \mathrm{C}^{2}$ $=\left(M_{Z . N-1}+M_{0}-M_{Z N}\right) C^{2}$