In a nuclear fission process, a high mass nuclide (A \approx 236) with binding energy 7.6 ~MeV / Nucleon dissociated into middle mass nuclides (A \approx 118) , having binding energy of 8.6 ~MeV / Nucleon . The energy released in the process would be \underline\hspace2cmMeV .

Atoms and Nuclei PYQ — JEE Main 2024 · 27 Jan · Shift 1 · Q85 with Solution

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Correct answer: 236

In nuclear fission, energy is released because the binding energy per nucleon increases.

Given:

Initial nucleus: $A \approx 236$
Initial binding energy per nucleon $= 7.6\,\text{MeV}$
Final fragments: middle-mass nuclei with binding energy per nucleon $= 8.6\,\text{MeV}$

So, increase in binding energy per nucleon is

\Delta B = 8.6 - 7.6 = 1.0\,\text{MeV per nucleon}

The original nucleus has approximately $236$ nucleons, and all these nucleons end up in the fission fragments.

Hence total increase in binding energy is

E = 236 \times 1.0 = 236\,\text{MeV}

Therefore, the energy released in the fission process is

\boxed{236\,\text{MeV}}