binding energy

[ bahyn-ding en-er-jee ]

noun

, Physics.

1. Also called separation energy. the energy required to decompose a molecule, atom, or nucleus into its constituent particles, equal to the energy equivalent of the mass defect.
2. the energy required to separate a single particle or group of particles from a molecule, atom, or nucleus.

binding energy

noun

1. the energy that must be supplied to a stable nucleus before it can undergo fission. It is equal to the mass defect
2. the energy required to remove a particle from a system, esp an electron from an atom

Word History and Origins

Origin of binding energy¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Some key questions that ab initio calculations can help answer are the binding energies and properties of atomic nuclei and the link between nuclear structure and the underlying interactions between protons and neutrons.

From Science Daily

Chemists traditionally think about surface catalysis based on the chemical binding energy of molecules to active sites on the surface, which influences the amount of energy needed for the reaction, he says.

From Science Daily

This difference in mass is responsible for the binding energy of the nuclei.

From Science Daily

In the most modern two-dimensional semiconductors, these excitons have an extraordinarily high binding energy.

From Science Daily

The researchers analyzed thermodynamic parameters of the system such as binding energies, changes in capacitance, and molecular conformations and found that they played critical roles in optimizing the sensor's performance.

From Science Daily