Given below are two statements:
Statement I: For all elements, greater the mass of the nucleus, greater is the binding energy per nucleon.
Statement II: For all elements, nuclei with less binding energy per nucleon transforms to nuclei with greater binding energy per nucleon.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below

We need to evaluate two statements about nuclear binding energy.

Statement I: "For all elements, greater the mass of the nucleus, greater is the binding energy per nucleon."

This statement is FALSE. The binding energy per nucleon does not increase monotonically with mass number. It increases up to iron (Fe-56) and then decreases for heavier nuclei. For example, uranium has a lower binding energy per nucleon than iron.

Statement II: "For all elements, nuclei with less binding energy per nucleon transforms to nuclei with greater binding energy per nucleon."

This statement is TRUE. Nuclear reactions (both fission and fusion) proceed in the direction of increasing binding energy per nucleon, as this leads to more stable configurations. Light nuclei undergo fusion and heavy nuclei undergo fission, both leading to products with higher binding energy per nucleon.

Therefore, Statement I is false and Statement II is true, which corresponds to Option 4.