The amount of energy needed to split the nucleus into individual protons and neutrons

The correct answer is nuclear binding energy.

Explanation:

The least amount of energy, which is needed to distinguish an electron from an atom or to break the neutrons and protons from the nucleus of the atom is termed as the binding energy. This form of energy is also called separation energy. When a bound system is produced, the binding energy is equivalent to the mass defect less the concentration of the mass or energy discharged.

There are many types of the binding energy of which the energy, which is needed to dissociate a nucleus into the individual neutrons and protons is known as the nuclear binding energy.