The calculation of atomic weights from nuclear reaction energies

Abstract

In a previous paper the atomic weights of several light elements were calculated from nuclear reaction energies using the known values of the atomic weights of He 4 and H 1 . In the present paper it is shown that the atomic weights can be obtained from the reaction energies without making any use of atomic weights determined by other methods. Any atom may be supposed formed by the combination of neutrons and hydrogen atoms according to the reaction equation z 1 H 1 + ( w - z ) 0 n 1 = z A w + z E w , where z E w denotes the energy of formation of the atom z A w . If we consider N different elements including 1 H 1 and 0 n 1 then we have N — 2 energies of formation. If the energies of formation are known then the energy of any nuclear reaction may be calculated.