Calculate the neutron separation energy for Lithium-7.

• As per the mass-energy equivalence principle, energy and mass are interconvertible. Thus when energy is lost in chemical, nuclear, or any other energy transformation the system will also lose mass.

• Neutron separation energy is the amount of energy that is required to separate neutrons from the nucleus. This energy is calculated by finding the mass difference between the parent and converting it into energy.

• Neutron separation energy is given by,

$\boxed{{\mathbf{E}}_{\mathbf{n}}\mathbf{=}\left[M\left(A-1,Z\right)+m_n-M\left(A,Z\right)\right]{\mathbf{c}}^{\mathbf{2}}}$

Here M(A-1, Z) is the mass of the nucleus after it lost a neutron, m_n is the mass of the neutron, M(A, Z) is the mass of the nucleus before it lost a neutron and c is the speed of light.