Answer:
Energy is absorbed, so the mass is reduced.
Explanation:
The relationship between the mass and the energy is given by Einstein formula as :
[tex]E=mc^2[/tex]
m is the mass of an atom
c is the speed of light
When an atom is formed, the energy gets absorbed. As a result mass will decrease as per Einstein's equation. So, the correct option is (c) "Energy is absorbed, so the mass is reduced".
