Identify the correct statements.(A) The density of nuclear matter is…

The correct answer is Option (2) → (A) and (B) only

(A) The density of nuclear matter is independent of the size of the nucleus. — Correct. The radius is \( R = R_0 A^{1/3} \), so the volume is proportional to the mass number \( A \) and the nuclear density is about the same (roughly \( 2.3\times10^{17}\,\mathrm{kg\,m^{-3}} \)) for every nucleus.

(B) Nuclear forces are charge independent and are non-central forces. — Correct. The force between two protons, two neutrons or a proton and a neutron is the same, and it depends on the spins of the nucleons, not only on the distance between them, so it is not a central force.

(C) The nuclides having the same mass number are called isotones. — Incorrect. Nuclides with the same mass number are isobars; isotones have the same number of neutrons.

(D) The mass of a nucleus can be less or more than the sum of the masses of nucleons present inside it. — Incorrect. A bound nucleus has a positive binding energy, so its mass is always less than the sum of the masses of its separate nucleons (mass defect); it can never be more.

So the correct statements are (A) and (B), which is Option (2).

NCERT (2026-27):
Points to Ponder – “1. The density of nuclear matter is independent of the size of the nucleus.”

Nuclear Force – “… The nuclear force does not depend on the electric charge.”

Atomic Masses and Composition of Nucleus – “… All nuclides with same mass number A are called isobars. For example, the nuclides \( {}^{3}_{1}\mathrm{H} \) and \( {}^{3}_{2}\mathrm{He} \) are isobars. Nuclides with same neutron number N but different atomic number Z, for example \( {}^{198}_{80}\mathrm{Hg} \) and \( {}^{197}_{79}\mathrm{Au} \), are called isotones.”

Nuclear Binding Energy – “… Therefore it may be expected that the mass of the nucleus is equal to the total mass of its individual protons and neutrons. However, the nuclear mass M is found to be always less than this.”