Reason (R): Stability increases with increase in number of nucleons.
Solution:
Assertion (A) is false. A nucleus with higher *total* binding energy is not necessarily more stable; stability is determined by binding energy *per nucleon*. For example, \(^{238}U\) has more total binding energy than \(^{56}Fe\) but is less stable. Reason (R) is also false. Nuclear stability increases with nucleon number up to (A approx 56) (Iron) and then decreases for heavier nuclei.
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