Atomic Mass The Atomic Mass of Candium Lab
Atomic Mass This is the weighted average mass of the atoms in nature of that element A weighted avg mass reflects both the mass & the relative abundance of the isotopes
Atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons
Different isotopes have different properties Name followed by mass number to identify Boron – 10 and Boron - 11: which is more abundant if the mass of B is amu?
To calculate atomic mass based on relative abundance: The number of stable isotopes of the element The mass of each isotope The natural % abundance of each isotope
EX Problem: Element J has 2 natural isotopes. The isotope with a mass of amu has a relative abundance of 19.91%. The isotope with a mass of amu has a relative abundance of 80.09%. Find the atomic mass of the element.
Knowns: Isotope 1 Mass = amu RA = 19.91% or Isotope 2 Mass = amu RA = 80.09% or
The mass each isotope contributes to the element’s atomic mass can be calculated by multiplying the isotope’s mass by its RA. The atomic mass of the element is the sum of these individual contributions.
Contribution isotope 1 = x = amu Contribution isotope 2 = x = amu Add these values = amu The calculated value is closer to the more abundant isotope so our answer makes sense.
Now you try: Copper has naturally occuring isotopes with mass numbers 63 & 65. The RA and atomic masses are 69.2% for mass = amu & 30.8% for mass amu. Calculate the avg atomic mass of copper.
Did you get amu? Remember sig figs.. This answer is closer to the more abundant isotope’s mass so it makes sense. This is what you will be finding in lab tomorrow. Let’s look at it now.