| 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. |
| separation energy | |
noun | |
| the energy required to separate particles from a molecule or atom or nucleus; equals the mass defect [syn: binding energy] |
