We are asked to pick apart an particle by removing in sequence, a proton, a neutron, and a proton. We have to calculate (a) the work required for each step, (b) the total binding energy of the particle, and (c) the binding energy per nucleon. Needed atomic masses are

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(a)

We will calculate the energy required for picking apart an particle by removing in sequence, a proton, a neutron, and a proton.

Energy require for removing a proton from an particle can be found by noting that we are considering the process

.

The energy required for this process will be

We next calculate the energy required for removing a neutron from nucleus. That is we consider the process

.

The energy required for this process will be

We next calculate the energy required for removing a proton from . That is we consider the splitting of a deuteron described by the process

.

The energy required for this process will be

(b)

Therefore, the total energy required for splitting an particle, which is its binding energy, is

(c)

The binding energy per nucleon in an particle, therefore, is